ECR group blocks extension of the Working Time Directive

Razor-thin majority against new unnecessary burdens on self-employed drivers

30th September 2009 - The European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) in the European Parliament was last night instrumental in blocking efforts of socialist MEPs to extend the EU's Working Time Directive to self-employed drivers.

Although the European Commission proposal recognised that the added administrative and cost burdens on drivers will bring little to no benefit to road safety, left-wing MEPs on the employment committee still attempted to extend the directive to self-employed mobile workers who already comply with significant amounts of safety legislation. Fortunately, the proposals was defeated - by 25 votes to 24.

The proposal will now go back to the committee, which is expected to draft a new report based on the European Commission's original proposal.

ECR coordinator on the employment committee and Czech MEP, Milan Cabrnoch, said:

"The European Commission had managed to come forward with a fairly sensible proposal, recognising that the existing laws on self-employed drivers were sufficient and extending the Working Time Directive would add burdens without tangible safety benefits.

"Unfortunately, the Socialists could not resist an opportunity to regulate, even when it was not needed. Their efforts would seriously damage the competitiveness of our self-employed hauliers at a time when they are already struggling to make ends meet.

"The closeness of this vote shows that our group has shown that it can be pivotal in staving off socialist efforts to regulate our industries out of existence.

"Once again, socialists in the so-called employment committee have shown that they have little interest in encouraging employment in Europe."

ENDS

Released by: Milan Cabrnoch MEP

Contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

8th February 2012 - ECR Vice-Chairmen speak at Heritage Foundation