ATTO brought the pressing issue of the Combined Transport Directive directly to the European Parliament in Brussels on the 18th of March engaging in a series of high-level discussions ahead of key deliberations on the Directive’s long-awaited revision.
Hosted by MEP Daniel Attard together with the Board of Directors of UIRR, the association for road-rail combined transport serving the European intermodal freight sector, the meetings centred on a critical concern namely that the current definition of combined transport fails to reflect the realities of island Member States and does not sufficiently support the modernisation of intermodal freight within the EU Single Market.
Opening the discussion, ATTO Chairman Joseph Bugeja highlighted the structural challenges faced by operators, particularly those in geographically constrained markets and stressed the urgency of reform, noting that the directive, now 34 years old, requires updating to remain relevant.
Contributions from MEP Peter Agius further reinforced the need to maintain momentum and ensure the directive evolves in line with today’s transport and logistics landscape.
As part of its visit, ATTO also held separate bilateral meetings with Alex Agius Saliba and Dr Peter Agius, strengthening dialogue on the future direction of EU road transport policy.
A key highlight of the mission was a meeting with President of the EU Parliament Roberta Metsola, where ATTO presented the sector’s main challenges and strategic priorities, emphasising the need for a more inclusive and forward-looking legislative framework.
ATTO also engaged with its international partner, the International Road Union, of whom ATTO is a member, meeting with Dr Raluca Marian, Director of EU Advocacy, and Mr Mark Billiet, Associate Director. These exchanges reaffirmed the importance of coordinated advocacy and collaboration at EU level.
“Through these engagements, ATTO has ensured that the concerns of our members were once again clearly communicated at the highest levels in line with our ongoing efforts to shape legislation that reflects the realities of all Member States and in support of a more efficient, modern, and competitive transport sector,” added Joseph Bugeja.
ATTO extends its sincere appreciation to Mr Dan Wolff of Eurotran for his valuable support in facilitating this important visit and contributing to its success.
