February 10, 2009
“12 days” to save European coach tourism
The IRU urges the European Parliament and Council to adopt a 12-day derogation for international coach tourism that permits more than one service.
Brussels - The European coach industry is deeply concerned by the potential of restricting the future 12-day derogation for international coach tourism to a single service only, since this proposal ignores the social partners’ agreement and needs.
The European coach industry, together with its partners from the European tourism and travel sector, has made it crystal clear that the future 12-day derogation must include the possibility for operators to use the derogation for a combination of more than one services adding up to 12 days, if it is to be of real value for the industry and its customers. This possibility was already present in the European Parliament amendment voted in plenary by a large cross-party majority on 5 June 2008, pursuant to an agreement reached by the social partners.
Graham Smith, President of the IRU Passenger Transport Council, said: "The provision of numerous support measures included in the proposed Parliamentary amendment guarantees a very high level of road safety for any kind of services up to 12 days, be it a single service of 12 days or a combination of services adding up to 12 days. A restriction to use the derogation for a single service only would increase costs of operators by up to 15%, whilst considerably reducing their flexibility in organising trips and meeting customers' demands. Such an effect would considerably reduce the expected positive impact of the reintroduction of the 12-day derogation."
The IRU thus calls upon the European Parliament and the Council to adopt a 12-day derogation for international coach tourism which permits several services adding up to 12 days.
The IRU also calls upon the European institutions to ensure that the derogation, which should reflect the agreement reached earlier by the social partners, enters into force immediately upon publication in the Official Journal of the EC.
In the turmoil of the worst economic crisis since the Second World War, the entire European travel industry is now turning to EU Transport Ministers and MEPs to shoulder their responsibilities by helping drivers and operators while creating a stimulus for the tourism industry through the adoption of a flexible 12-day derogation in the weeks to come.
See petition signed by some 20,000 drivers and operators
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