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IRU welcomes the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) committees’ proposal to increase the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) budget to EUR 91.3 billion for 2028–2034. This is nearly EUR 10 billion above the European Commission’s initial proposal and brings the budget closer to the EUR 100 billion ambition put forward by 45 European transport organisations.

The Upply x Ti x IRU European road freight rates report on Q3 2026 found that both benchmarks levelled off at record levels after sharp increases in the first half of the year. Contract rates rose to 148.9 index points, a modest 0.8-point increase quarter on quarter (QoQ) and 14.6 points higher year on year (YoY). Spot rates followed the same path, edging up 0.8 points QoQ to 147.6 index points, 12.9 points higher YoY. The driver was cost rather than demand: average diesel price reached a record

The European Commission’s first-ever EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy marks an important milestone in establishing a common EU vision for a more competitive, sustainable, resilient and inclusive tourism sector.

IRU welcomes a major political shift in the European Parliament, where MEPs have challenged the European Commission’s approach to corporate fleet decarbonisation and backed more realistic CO₂ targets and greater technology neutrality for vans. The votes mark an important success for the commercial road transport sector and reinforce a clear message: decarbonisation cannot be achieved through purchasing mandates disconnected from market realities.

IRU is closely following developments at the EU–Türkiye border and the road transport industry’s overall concerns over Schengen entry and stay rules affecting its drivers, including in the Western Balkans. These concerns must be addressed to keep vital supply chains moving.

IRU calls on the European Commission to provide targeted support to road transport operators amidst surging diesel prices and reaffirms its commitment to dialogue.

Seven in ten operators say customers won’t pay the extra cost of greener transport, according to IRU and Trimble’s 2026 Green Compact survey.

IRU regrets the Irish Presidency’s intention to cut transport funding under the Connecting Europe Facility. Europe’s competitiveness, climate and security ambitions depend on stronger infrastructure investment.

IRU and Transport & Environment (T&E) are calling on the European Commission to establish a supportive EU framework for semi-private charging as part of the upcoming review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).

IRU’s two new EU position papers call for semi-public depot charging and 30-day payment terms for road transport services. They address two practical conditions operators need to invest in zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure: charging access and predictable cash flow.

IRU and the European Metropolitan Transport Authorities (EMTA) are urging the Irish Presidency and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to fix key provisions in the Industrial Accelerator Act's proposed “Buy European” rules for electric vehicles. They warn that the current approach risks forcing working electric buses off the road and penalising public transport operators and authorities that bought them in good faith.

IRU welcomes the European Commission’s Fair Labour Mobility Package published today, in particular its drive to digitalise social security and qualification procedures, improve interoperability between EU systems, and reduce the recurring administrative burden of cross-border labour mobility which falls disproportionately on small and medium sized firms, of which the vast majority of road transport operators are.

The European Commission’s proposal for a new Public Procurement Regulation is a significant step towards quality-based competition, but further improvements are needed to ensure fair and competitive public procurement for road transport.

IRU and T&E are calling on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to launch a strategic dialogue on heavy-duty vehicle decarbonisation, as key EU rules head for review and rising energy and cost pressures add urgency to getting the transition right.

The IRU x Upply x Ti Q2 2026 report shows that European contract and spot markets have accelerated sharply, breaking with the softer conditions seen through late 2025 and in Q1 2026. Contract rates rose to 148 index points, up 7.9 points quarter on quarter (QoQ) and 15.2 points year on year (YoY). Spot rates climbed even more steeply, reaching 146.8 index points, up 14.6 points QoQ and 13.9 points YoY, nearly double contract rate's quarterly pace. After three quarters of divergence, both markets

Habib Turki has officially assumed office as IRU’s new Secretary General.

IRU welcomes the Commission’s recognition of road transport as one of the key sectors in its Electrification Action Plan, which is an important step towards creating the conditions needed for operators to invest in electric vehicles.

IRU welcomes the provisional agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council on targeted amendments to the Eurovignette Directive as an important step towards greater legal clarity on CO₂-based road charging for heavy-duty vehicles across the EU.

A major regulatory shift began on 1 July for Europe’s van sector: cross-border light commercial vehicles (LCVs) above 2.5 tonnes must now comply with EU rules on driving and rest times, mandatory smart tachographs and driver posting. This means equipping vehicles with tachographs and adapting to entirely new compliance requirements affecting drivers and day-to-day operations.

IRU’s latest global driver shortage report finds that recruitment difficulties are worsening, with the shortage topping operators’ concerns across most surveyed markets.

IRU takes note of the Council’s agreed negotiating position on the grids package as an important step towards strengthening the EU’s energy infrastructure to support electrification and decarbonisation.

A harmonised EU-wide approach to mandatory security updates for tachographs is needed, with legal certainty, equal treatment of operators, and consistent implementation across the bloc.

IRU welcomes the launch of the European Commission’s final Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Transport call under the current 2021–2027 EU budget, which provides dedicated funding for three long-standing priorities of the commercial road transport sector: alternative fuels infrastructure, external border efficiency and digital innovation. The package includes EUR 130 million for alternative fuels infrastructure, EUR 20 million for external border-crossing improvements, and EUR 20 million for digi

IRU welcomes the progress made by the Council and the European Parliament on new EU rules to facilitate military mobility, while calling for stronger safeguards to ensure civilian road transport operators can effectively support defence logistics and mobility in times of crisis.

IRU’s new position paper on the European Commission’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) calls for practical adjustments to ensure the framework strengthens industrial competitiveness and decarbonisation without undermining the road transport sector.

A new industry initiative is injecting fresh momentum into the uptake of eCMR, the UN digital consignment note standard, targeting interoperability across vendors, users and countries.

IRU and a cross-sector industry coalition have called on EU policymakers to prioritise infrastructure, investment support and enabling conditions in the transition to zero-emission corporate fleets.

IRU members have voted to adopt a new Charter for Women in Road Transport. It sets out core principles to increase women’s participation across the industry’s workforce.

IRU members have unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a fuel crisis mechanism and urging governments to work with road transport operators on the development of contingency plans.

IRU’s General Assembly of members has voted to officially appoint Habib Turki as its next Secretary General.

IRU and T&E call for urgent political support to secure a pragmatic compromise in the ongoing trilogue negotiations on the Weights and Dimensions Directive in coordinated letters to the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, and the European Parliament’s lead negotiator, Rosa Serrano Sierra.

IRU welcomes the vote of the European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) on the provisional agreement revising the coordination of social security systems at EU level.

IRU welcomes the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism’s (TRAN) support for key positions on the Roadworthiness Package and the revision of Eurovignette rules on CO₂ emission classes for heavy-duty vehicles with trailers.

The IRU x Upply x Ti report on European road freight rates in Q1 2026 reveals a divergence between contract and spot markets. Contract rates reached 140.1 index points, a solid 3.2-point increase quarter on quarter (q-o-q) and an 8.9-point increase year on year (y-o-y). Meanwhile, spot rates edged down slightly to 132.3 index points, falling by 2.8 points q-o-q and ending the period 2.0 points lower y-o-y.

IRU welcomes the European Commission’s new Temporary Crisis Framework targeting several sectors most affected by the energy crisis, particularly the explicit recognition of the exceptional pressures facing road transport operators. However, Member State action remains key to turning the opportunities created by the framework into real support for the sector.