OREANDA-NEWS. At a European Parliament ALDE Group hearing on ‘the impact of the refugee crisis on the EU transport sector’ IRU briefed MEPs on the impact on commercial road transport of the humanitarian refugee crisis that has resulted in the reintroduction of some EU border controls.

IRU advised that the transport sector was facing costs in excess of EUR5bn, notwithstanding the negative impact on tourism and trade. It was stressed that the sector was facing additional waiting times at borders, longer routes, contract penalties and lost business opportunities. In addition, the disproportionate obligations imposed on operators such as carrying out passenger identity controls and taking precautionary measures against stowaways was also highlighted.

IRU repeated its call to the European Commission to take all necessary actions to solve the refugee crisis and while doing so pay more attention to the concerns of the commercial road transport sector and take meaningful measures to alleviate the negative impacts. Closer cooperation between Member States, facilitated by the European Commission, is essential.