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Mobility and Transport

Road

Road haulage

As of 4 December 2011, access to the international road haulage market is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009.

Social provisions

Road transport is essential to the economy in terms of its contribution to GDP. The sector also employs almost 5 million people in the EU. Making...

Weights and dimensions

In Europe, heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), such as trucks, buses, coaches and articulated vehicles must comply with certain rules on weights and dimensions to ensure road safety, prevent damages to roads, bridges and tunnels and ensure fair competition in the road transport sector.

Parking areas

Sufficient parking areas along the European road transport network are needed to allow drivers to rest. These areas must be adapted to the needs of...

Access to the profession

As of 4 December 2011, admission to the occupation of road haulage operator and road passenger transport operator in the European Union is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009.

Non EU-countries

Road transport between EU and non-EU countries (third countries) is still largely based on bilateral agreements between individual Member States and third countries. However, with certain countries, the EU has concluded agreements which take precedence over bilateral agreements.

Passenger transport

As of 4 December 2011, the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009.

Road charging

Taxation and infrastructure charging are important for maintaining and developing the trans-European infrastructure network. The EU has created a framework to encourage Member States to use taxation and infrastructure charging in the most effective and fair manner in order to promote the 'user pays'
Ukraine

Measures designed to help Member States, transport operators and workers continue transport operations and support the transport of refugees

Keeping transport running

Promoting efficient, safe and green land transport

What does EU road transport policy want to achieve? Have a look at our web portal: "A Road Transport Strategy for Europe".

The aim of the European Union’s land transport policy is to promote mobility that is efficient, safe, secure and environmentally friendly.

The EU’s policy objectives for road transport are therefore to promote efficient road freight and passenger transport services, to create fair conditions for competition, to promote and harmonise safer and more environmentally friendly technical standards, to ensure a degree of fiscal and social harmonisation, and to guarantee that road transport rules are applied effectively and without discrimination.

The existing legislation applying to road transport services establishes common rules on access to the profession and to the market, sets minimal standards for working time, driving time and rest periods (including enforcement and the use of tachograph (devices) for professional road transport, and sets minimum annual vehicle taxes, as well as common rules for tolls and user charges for heavy goods vehicles. Moreover, it harmonises the maximum weights and dimensions of road vehicles. The Commission also promotes increasing the number of safe parking areas along the trans-European road network.

The most recent developments in the road transport market are described in the Road Freight Transport Vademecum (September 2011) and the most relevant statistics are available in the Transport PocketBook. In addition, the Commission adopted its Report on the State of the Union Road Transport Market (COM(2014)222) in April 2014.

Brexit

Consequences of Brexit

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