With regard to the statements that the state has not protected the rights of the Bulgarian hauliers during discussions of the Mobility package, we are obliged to present as a matter of fact a short chronology of the process related to the Mobility package so far. On May 31, 2017 the European Commission presented Mobility Package I to all member states. The Bulgarian side immediately expressed its clear, categorical and unambiguous position, which was approved by the Council of Ministers upon the proposal of the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications. The position of Bulgaria was also presented during the Transport Council in Luxembourg on June 8, 2017 during which was expressed the opinion that the provisions envisaged for the implementation of the Directive concerning the posting of workers in the framework of international transport is a measure that may create inequality of transport operators regarding the access to the Single European Market. The envisaged amendments concerning cabotage operations do not have added value and contradict to the aims stipulated in the White paper on transport. There is a lack of thorough vision and horizontal approach regarding the envisaged provisions on the place for weekly rest because it will lead to losses for the industry due to the lack of enough secured parkings within the Trans European transport network.
The position, expressed by the Bulgarian side during the Council meeting on December 5, 2017, has not been changed, underlying once again that Mobility package should be based on fair solutions which reflect the necessity to exercise the main freedom to render services. During the same Council meeting have been held meetings with the Ministers of Germany, Sweden, France, Great Britain and Estonia, at which the Bulgarian position has been categorically expressed once again. A meeting was also held with the EU Commissioner for transport Violeta Bulc.
In the framework position of the dossier related to the Directive concerning the posting of workers in the framework of international transport, as a ”red line” (that we couldn't cross) has been explicitly specified that Bulgaria does not want to be imposed a restrictive regime regarding the use of weekly rest of drivers. “Red lines” have been stipulated in a similar way in other texts, which are related to the Directive concerning the posting and may put Bulgarian transport undertakings in an extremely unfavorable position.
On June 27, 2017 the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications organized a meeting in the European Parliament with the participation of Bulgarian Members of the EP from all political parties. There the Bulgarian position was confirmed again.
The priorities of the Bulgarian presidency of the EU Council in 2018 in the field of transport, information technology and communications were presented by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications at the ordinary session of the Committee on transport, information Technology and Communications of the National Assembly on October 11, 2017. In his speech before the Permanent Committee of the National Assembly Minister Moskovski expressed again clearly and categorically the Bulgarian position – “we are fourteen countries, which have categorically stated that will not allow that” (the proposals on Mobility package I in the part related to the protection of the interests of Bulgarian transport operators).
These are part of the documents proving the continuous position of our state on the protection of the interests of Bulgarian transport companies. The Bulgarian side has never expressed or defended a thesis in favor of the inclusion of texts in the scope of the legislation of Mobility package I that could create the slightest opportunity for the Bulgarian transport sector to be put into unequal position.
We remind that still in December 2015 during the meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council - Transport format, held in Brussels, Minister Ivaylo Moskovski defended the rights of the Bulgarian hauliers before the EU Ministers regarding the restrictive practices, introduced by some EU member states. These practices were related to restrictions of the use of the normal weekly rest in the cabin of the vehicle and requirements for the remuneration of drivers considering the countries they cross.
In the document attached hereto you may see the position of the Bulgarian side regarding the Mobility package. Information on the whole activity related to the Mobility package has also been publically announced.