The Benelux countries must collaborate more closely in securing European subsidies and EU investments for building secure truck parking spaces. This was agreed upon by transport organizations, employers, and major companies from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg during a meeting in Brussels.
If the three countries designate a single transport corridor running north to south through Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, and can identify where secure truck parking is needed, they can pool their requests for EU co-financing. This approach increases the chances that their applications to the EU will be successful.
Among the participants at the Brussels meeting were representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, insurers, and several regional administrators from the Netherlands and Belgium. The interest group Transport and Logistics Netherlands (TLN) emphasized that the priority is to provide drivers with a safe and comfortable place to park and rest. Secure parking spaces are also an effective tool in the fight against cargo theft.
It was recently announced that the European Union is making funds available again for building secure truck parking: over 20 million euros. In the Netherlands, more than 800 additional truck parking spaces have already been created with EU funding.
Brussels is currently focusing more attention on accommodation issues at parking and rest areas. Truck drivers were often away from home for months, but EU rules now require them to be able to travel home for a weekend every three weeks. This trip must be paid for by the employer, not the drivers themselves. Furthermore, drivers are not allowed to sleep in their cabs for several nights in a row. The goal is not only to improve working conditions but also to further reduce competitive distortions.