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Mobility and Transport
News article2 February 2023Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport

Commission tables extension to EU-Ukraine road transport agreement

The European Commission has proposed an extension to the temporary road transport agreement signed with Ukraine, which has allowed Ukrainian hauliers to increase their operations on EU roads by around 40%. These additional lorries are carrying vital goods into Ukraine, such as fuel and humanitarian aid, while helping Ukrainian goods like grain, fruit and industrial products to reach the EU and the rest of the world.

The original agreement, signed in June 2022, gives bilateral transport rights to Ukrainian and EU hauliers for each other’s territories. It was intended to support the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, which were set up as alternatives to the Black Sea shipping routes when Ukraine’s ports were blocked by Russia. And it has had the intended impact.

The Agreement led to a rapid increase in transport operations: in the first month after application, almost half a million tonnes of Ukrainian agricultural goods were transported – a significant increase compared to the 320,000 tonnes of the previous month.

Even once the Black Sea Grain Initiative was agreed in August 2022, allowing the export of limited goods by sea from Ukraine, exports via road continued to rise, reaching 640,000 tonnes in October 2022.

These exports have provided a lifeline for Ukraine’s economy. For example, the Agreement also authorises the transit of Ukrainian goods by road through the EU to third countries. Between July and September 2022 alone, this channelled more than €1 billion into Ukraine’s economy.

The current Agreement expires at the end of June 2023. The new proposal would see it extended until 31 December 2025.

The EU also has a road transport agreement in place with the Republic of Moldova. This was extended in December 2022.

Details

Publication date
2 February 2023
Author
Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport