Council Decision (EU) 2022/2435 of 5 December 2022 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road

What it is

to approve the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: in view of the important disruptions in the transport sector in Ukraine caused by the war of aggression undertaken by Russia, it is necessary to find alternative routes by road for Ukraine to export its stocks of grain, fuel, foodstuffs and other relevant goods. Given that permits granted in the framework of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) multilateral quota system within the International Transport Forum and existing bilateral agreements with Ukraine do not allow for the necessary flexibility for Ukrainian road haulage operators to increase and plan ahead their operations through and with the European Union, it is crucial to liberalise the transport of freight by road for bilateral operations as well as for transit. PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road. BACKGROUND: the agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road was signed on 29 June 2022, subject to its conclusion at a later date. In view of the important disruptions in the transport sector in Ukraine caused by the war of aggression undertaken by Russia, it is necessary to find alternative routes by road for Ukraine to export its stocks of grain, fuel, foodstuffs and other relevant goods. Given that Member States’ European Conference of Ministers of Transport permits and the bilateral agreements between Member States and Ukraine do not allow for the necessary flexibility for Ukrainian road haulage operators to increase and plan ahead their operations through and with the Union, it is crucial to liberalise the transport of freight by road for bilateral operations and transit. Furthermore, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has compromised the possibility for many Ukrainian drivers to follow the administrative procedures related to driver documents, such as international driving permit applications or the issuance of new driver documents in the event they are lost or stolen. CONTENT: the draft Council decision is aimed at approving, on behalf of the European Union, the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road. The exercise of Union competence pursuant to this Decision and the Agreement will be limited to the period of application of the Agreement. After the end of that period of application, the Union shall immediately cease to exercise that competence and the Member States shall again exercise their competence. The exercise of Union competence pursuant to this Decision will be without prejudice to the competence of the Member States concerning any ongoing or future negotiations for, or signature or conclusion of, international agreements related to the carriage of goods by road with any other third country. The European Parliament adopted by 586 votes to 1, with 7 abstentions, a legislative…

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