Polish truck companies targeted in EU ministers’ agreement
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
01.02.2017 18:11
Transport ministers of nine European countries signed an agreement in Paris, France, to jointly combat ‘unfair competition’ from transport companies in countries such as Poland.
Photo: Pexels.com
The deal signed by the transport ministers of France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Denmark aims to harmonise transport procedures in Europe and deal with so-called “road slaves” from Eastern European countries such as Poland, Bulgaria and Romania.
“Professional drivers have become road slaves,” French transport minister, Alain Vidalies, was quoted as telling a press conference after Tuesday’s meeting.
“These countries came together in Paris today and decided to act together to end unfair competition and the degradation of the living standards of professional drivers in the road transport sector,” he added.
According to the IAR news agency, Polish drivers earn about EUR 600 a month, with their French counterparts earning around four times as much. But it’s also much cheaper to run such a company, IAR says. A truck in Poland costs EUR 20,000, while a similar vehicle can cost up to EUR 45,000 in France. (rg)