Document
Ecopoints letter to Coreper
11 March 2003
Dear Ambassador,
The European Shippers’ Council (ESC) represents the interests of European industry as users of freight transport services in all modes of freight transport (deep sea shipping, short sea shipping, air transport, road transport, rail, inland waterways both within Europe and overseas). Shippers are primarily producers of goods and services which they market, sell and distribute to their customers.
The reason for writing you is to provide you with ESC’s view on European Parliament’s recent report on the prolongation of the Austrian Ecopoints system (as adopted on 12 February) which is substantially different from the compromise agreement reached on 31 December 2002 by the Council.
ESC believes that the opinion of the European Parliament is considerably better than the Council’s compromise.
One of the positive points in the proposal of the European Parliament is the exemption of any contingent for vehicles with euro-3 engines. Many companies in the EU are rewarded through this exemption for their efforts in investing in cleaner vehicles.
Additionally, trade is less likely to be obstructed by shortages of ecopoints if the amount available for the years after 2003 will be based on the amount of 2002 instead of 2003.
We are also pleased by the fact that the restrictions in future will only have an effect on those roads for which the system was originally meant, that is the routes through the Alps. This will substantially facilitate traffic through to Hungary and countries further eastwards.
Although we consider as a matter of principle that any quota system is a violation of the principle of free movement of goods and discriminatory to other Member States with similar transit problems, it is clear that a less restrictive transit arrangement will serve the interests of trade and industry in all Member States.
We therefore ask for support of the proposal of the European Parliament and would appreciate it if you could bring our views to the attention of your Minister and experts in charge of this issue.
Yours sincerely,
Nicolette van der Jagt
Secretary General
For further information contact: Nicolette van der Jagt, Secretary General of the ESC - Brussels 00 322 230 2113
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