WRITTEN QUESTION P-3399/96 by Jörn Donner (PSE) to the Commission (20 November 1996)

Subject: Road transport to Russia

The volume of business transactions between the European Union and Russia is growing rapidly, a fact which is reflected, inter alia, in the growth of goods transport, particularly at the border between Finland and Russia. On the Russia side, however, transport is hampered by many problems affecting hauliers from Finland and other EU countries. These are unreasonably long waiting times at the border caused by the Russian customs authorities, which compel drivers to spend several days and nights in their vehicles, arbitrary and constantly changing restrictions on transport and payments associated with them, and threats to drivers' safety.

These problems not only impede the development of trade between the EU and Russia but increase the costs of foreign hauliers, thereby distorting competition in favour of Russian hauliers. There is also a tendency towards social dumping because, as a result of the action of the Russian authorities, an increasing share of haulage operations is being carried out using cheap labour from outside the EU countries.

What will the Commission do to resolve the above problems, which have persisted for a long time in goods transport between the EU and Russia and which particularly affect hauliers based in the EU Member States?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1996)

The Commission is aware that Finland, since its accession to the Community, has become the gateway to Russia and that relevant border stations are currently overloaded. The Commission is also aware that Russian custom officials sometimes use untransparent practices vis-à-vis non-Russian trucks.

In 1996 the Commission launched a new facility, within the new Tacis Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 1279 ((OJ L 165, 4.7.1996. )) called cross border cooperation. Eligible projects under cross border cooperation include traffic management, border crossing management, custom clearance of freight and private travellers, immigration procedures, and links between the two sides of the frontier. Activities include consultancy, training, study tours, infrastructure and equipment. In 1996 8.7 MECU were allocated to four border projects, one for rail and three for road posts, between Finland and Russia. These projects will allow the Commission to monitor administrative practices at the border.

The Commission will also raise these issues concerning administrative border controls, drivers' safety and the levying of (possibly discriminatory) road charges at the next meeting of the Community-Russia joint committee. It will point out that such practices are not in accordance with the common objective to encourage trade relations and are against the spirit of the interim agreement currently in force.

During his visit to Moscow on 25-26 November 1996, the member of the Commission responsible for transport raised a number of the issues with Mr Lobov, Russian deputy prime minister, and Mr Tsakh, transport minister, expressing the Commission's concern at the situation and asking for measures to be taken as a priority to identify and reduce the problems. Both ministers acknowledged the difficulties and Mr Tsakh replied that early consultations between the Russian agencies concerned would take place.