Checks on Lithuanian drivers in Italy

8.4.2015

Question for written answer E-005552-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Zigmantas Balčytis (S&D)

‘Linava’, an association representing Lithuanian drivers, has approached me on account of the delays in Italy affecting the vehicles of drivers working for Lithuanian haulage firms. When checking documents for lorries belonging to Lithuanian firms transporting goods from Italy to Lithuania, officers of the Italian inspection service hold up vehicles and impose fines for non-possession of a travel permit for the carriage of goods to or from non-EU countries, the reason given for such decisions being that the ultimate recipients of the goods are companies based in a non-EU country, most often Russia or Kazakhstan.

According the Italian officers, the requirement to present a permit to transport goods to or from non-EU countries has to do with the particulars to be provided in point 2 of the CMR consignment note, in which it has to be stated, where applicable, that the consignee is a company registered in a non-EU country, irrespective of the route by which the goods are conveyed.

The carriage of goods by road from Italy to Lithuania performed by Lithuanian drivers is one link in the common multimodal freight transport chain: having reached Lithuania, goods are unloaded at logistics centres, where they go through warehousing, packing, and consolidation procedures before being exported to final recipients outside the EU.

Does not the Commission think that the requirements being imposed by the Italian officers, as described above, might be contrary to Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009?

Does it not believe that when determining whether permits to travel to or from non-EU countries are necessary for the carriage of goods, guidance should be sought from the transport documents and in particular the CMR consignment note (points 3 and 13 — ‘Place of delivery of the goods’ and ‘Sender’s instructions’), which should be treated as a supporting document confirming the substance of the carriage contract?