Effective simplification of transport legislation while maintaining high social standards

Key points

The EESC:

• recognises the important transport acquis and emphasises that a transparent and predictable transport regulatory framework is key to EU competitiveness, while guaranteeing high standards for workers, customers and social rights. These obligations must also apply to non-EU entities operating in the single market. Competitiveness, social rights and environmental protection must remain central to the European model;
• favours digitalisation and interoperability to modernise documentary requirements in passenger and freight transport. Secure, tamper-proof digital tools can simplify administration, support enforcement and enhance the safety and rights of workers, employers and passengers, while simplifying administrative tasks and respecting data privacy;
• believes that simplification should promote digital, smart and intelligence-led application of existing rules, particularly on working and rest times and workers' cross-border mobility, making the sector more attractive to underrepresented groups and helping address labour shortages. The highly mobile working environment in transport requires tailor-made social legislation;
• stresses the importance of social dialogue, as social partners are best placed to identify unnecessary and disproportionate rules and propose practical simplifications within structured sectoral dialogue, while safeguarding business operations and social standards.