WIREDGOV

Many MEPs called for solidarity among EU member states and concrete steps by the European Commission to aid road hauliers hit by Russian restrictions on food and farm produce imports from the EU, in a debate on Monday evening. The import ban’s impact on hauliers has been neglected, even though the EU has taken measures to support producers of fruit, vegetables and dairy produce, said Transport Committee MEPs in a question tabled for debate with the Commission.

"What measures does the new Commission envisage taking to avoid further deterioration of the situation for EU hauliers and does it intends to launch a complaint against Russia in the WTO?", asked Michael Cramer (Greens/EFA, DE), who tabled the question to the Commission on behalf of the Transport and Tourism Committee.

In the following debate with transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc many MEPs highlighted the need for solidarity, common solutions and concrete support for EU road hauliers hit by the Russian restrictions. They urged the Commission to propose solid steps, pointing out that this is not a local or regional issue but a problem for the EU as a whole.

There is no EU fund for transport hauliers similar to the emergency fund for agriculture, noted Ms Bulc. Member states should look into doing more while respecting state aid rules, she added. Even so, other EU support, such as the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund might be used, suggested some MEPs.

Other MEPs said that the Russian import restrictions are a result of EU sanctions, suggesting that if sanctions on Russia were lifted, the import restrictions would surely be lifted in return.