Combined transport: Greece taken to Court - Main contents

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Today the European Commission decided to take Greece to the European Court of Justice for failure to respect EU legislation^[1] on combined transport^[2]. The aim of the infringed legislation is to develop combined transport as an alternative to road transport by, inter alia, banning any quotas or prior authorisations for combined transport operations between Member States.

An Austrian company performing such combined transport operations from Austria to Greece complained to the Commission that the Greek authorities had prevented its trucks from carrying out the final road section, having accused them of undertaking illegal road transport. The Commission considers that Greece failed to respect EU legislation and to ensure that transport companies from other Member States can perform initial and final road haulage in combined transport operations.

The Directive concerned allows any road haulier, established in the European Union and fulfilling the conditions of access to the market, to perform the final haulage by road of a combined transport operation in Member States where it is not established. Moreover the Directive requests Member States not to restrict the initial and final road section of a combined transport operation between Member States through any quota or authorisation.

Referral to the Court of Justice may result in a judgment being given against a Member State for failing to meet its obligations under European law.

^[1] Directive 92/106/EEC of 7 December 1992 on the establishment of common rules for certain types of combined transport of goods between Member States (OJ L368, 17.12.1992, p.38)

^[2] Combined transport : freight transport where the major part of the journey is by rail, inland waterways or sea and any initial and/or final legs carried out by road are as short as possible