Despite fears about their impact on the environment and safety, MEPs spoke out on Tuesday March 12 in favor of easier circulation in the European Union (EU) of “mega-trucks” measuring up to 25 meters long. This legislation will now have to be negotiated between member states, whose approval is essential for its application.
These extendable trucks, carrying a container to which is added a trailer, are banned in France, but are already authorized in certain countries such as Sweden or Finland and tested in others such as Germany. The text plans to automatically authorize between consenting neighboring states, which already accept them on their territory, the circulation of these giants measuring up to 25 meters and weighing up to 60 tonnes according to European standards.
Originally, the revision of the rules on the weights and dimensions of trucks aims to encourage the development of zero-emission heavy goods vehicles, by allowing additional space to install battery or hydrogen cells. The text thus increases the maximum weight of zero-emission trucks traveling between EU countries to 44 tonnes (compared to 40 currently).
But diesel vehicles would also benefit from this increase until 2035, and could even weigh more if the States between which they circulate allow it for intermodal freight operations (combination of train/boat and road). A majority of French MEPs opposed mega-trucks, but their amendments were rejected.
Member States will adopt their position in June
For French environmentalist MEP Karima Delli, this text “ opens the door to bigger polluters, particularly on our roads,” And “kills rail freight”not competitive enough to resist.
On the same line, the “rebellious” MEP and head of the LFI list for the next European elections, Manon Aubry, criticized on his X account “right-wing groups, liberals and socialists”Who “have just voted massively in favor of authorizing dangerous and polluting mega-trucks”. “And “at the same time”, they are putting a stab at rail freight by selling it to the private sector. Irresponsible! »she lamented.
The Minister Delegate for Transport, Patrice Vergriete, also confirmed on his X account his opposition to the “liberalization of the international circulation of 44-tonne trucks and “megatrucks””. “Today the priority is modal shift, in particular towards rail”he stressed.
The rapporteur of the text in Parliament, the Spanish Social Democrat MEP Isabel Garcia Munoz, believes that ” the rules will create real incentives for companies to go zero emissions”. She argues that“by transporting the same load with fewer vehicles and fewer trips we can achieve significant reductions in emissions”. More than 50% of European freight is transported by road, and heavy goods vehicles generate 6% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
The European Council – the member states – will adopt its position in June, and it will then be up to the next parliamentary assembly, elected after the June 2024 elections, to begin negotiations to finalize the text.