As the new European Parliament sits for the first time, IRU looks forward to working with MEPs to drive a more sustainable, efficient and innovative EU road transport sector. Priority policy actions are outlined in IRU’s Manifesto.
IRU welcomes all newly elected and re-elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), sitting today for the first time in Strasbourg. MEPs play a crucial role in advancing EU decision-making, the direct voice of its citizens.
Representing more than one million road transport companies in the EU, IRU has announced key policy priorities for the Parliament’s new term, from 2024 to 2029, outlined in IRU’s Manifesto for EU commercial road transport.
IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian said, “On behalf of our members across the EU, we look forward to working with the new Parliament to continue reinforcing commercial road transport’s crucial role in underpinning healthy and prosperous communities and businesses.
“The most urgent priorities concern the need to support the commercial road transport sector’s transition towards carbon neutrality while maintaining its operational efficiency, resilience and competitiveness.
“In addition, we need to digitalise the sector in a smart way and address the chronic driver shortage that is already impacting the European economy.
“Working together, we can build a sustainable, efficient and innovative transport system that benefits everyone in the EU.”
A new manifesto
In alignment with its vision of connecting societies with safe, efficient and green mobility and logistics, IRU’s Manifesto for the new parliamentary term includes eight priority actions in three areas.
Firstly, for the sector’s workers, the Manifesto outlines actions to ease access to the driver profession and enhance training, as well as to improve driver rest conditions.
Secondly, to support the sector’s continued decarbonisation, the Manifesto includes priorities on heavy vehicle CO₂ standards, electricity grid capacity and harmonising urban vehicle access restrictions across the EU.
And finally, for the sector’s key role in supporting prosperity, the Manifesto focuses on digitalising transport documents, boosting efficiency and combined transport, and clarifying in-vehicle data rules.
As the new European Parliament embarks on its mandate, IRU remains committed to being a constructive and reliable partner in shaping the future of road transport in the EU.