Dutch haulage firms will soon be bankrupt

20.3.2014

Question for written answer E-003273-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Patricia van der Kammen (NI)

According to a ruling by a Danish court, a haulage firm established in Denmark with a subsidiary in Estonia may pay its lorry drivers at the rates which apply in Estonia[1].

1. Is the Commission aware of the report (on the Dutch haulage trade site ttm.nl) entitled ‘Kim Johansen allowed to pay East European rates’?

2. Is the Commission aware of the court ruling in question?

3. Is the court’s ruling in line with current EC law? If so, under what European legislation is Johansen allowed to be exempt from Danish collective agreements?

4. If the ruling does not conflict with EC law, is it applicable to other occupational groups too?

5. What impact does the Commission expect there to be on pay in the EU if firms adopt this strategy on a large scale? Does it expect there to be distorting effects?

6. What impact does the Commission expect there to be on flows of workers in the EU if firms adopt this strategy on a large scale? Does it expect there to be distorting effects?

7. What, in the Commission’s view, is a collective agreement worth?

8. Does the Commission have any idea how many Dutch lorry drivers are already unemployed, put out of work thanks to the distorting effects of the many East European workers in West European countries?

• [1] http://www.ttm.nl/nieuws/kim-johansen-mag-oost-europees-betalen/

OJ C 335, 25/09/2014