2019. 04. 17.
Press release by Andor Deli
“Today’s plenary vote on the Mobility Package was an example of the current situation within the EU: it showed how the “dominant” Western Member States imagine the future of EU politics. They don’t need Member States with their own opinions but only yes-men,” Fidesz MEP Andor Deli said following the vote.
“Over the last two years, we have consistently tried to convince our negotiating partners through arguments and concrete examples that although the transport sector does need pan-European regulation, it shouldn’t be to the detriment of companies from Central-Eastern Europe and the periphery. The internal market of the Union serves the common interest and the interests of consumers. However, in recent times, we have witnessed a policy based on the circumvention of the Rules of Procedure and on force and arrogance. The events of the past weeks have proven that if interests so require, standards are not sacred. In this process, many rules have been distorted. All of this has been done with the help of Western European MEPs who are questioning the rule of law in Hungary,” Andor Deli said.
Two months before the elections, some Western protectionist Member States, primarily France and Germany, are trying to push new, stronger players out of the transport market. The greatest advocates of European values today have stomped on the EU principle of free movement of goods and services and have proven that the unity of the internal market is not sacred to them.
“It’s a sad day for the entire transportation sector. But it is a sad day for the European Union, too, as representatives of Western political powers have once again shown their arrogance. It is disappointing to see how intensely the MEPs of certain Member States fought against the unity of Europe’s transportation market. They disregarded the interests of millions of citizens working in road transport and ignored the views of European industry and advocacy organizations. Ultimately, it is a disadvantage for all of us, as over-bureaucratized regulations with significant administrative burdens will lead to higher prices and a drop in the transportation sector. Meanwhile, there is already a huge lack of drivers across Europe,” Deli said.
The legislation adopted on 4 April is the first reading of the European Parliament, which will be finalized during the trialogues. However, its adoption will be the task of the new Parliament, established following the EP elections in May. “We, together with the Hungarian Government and the representatives of advocacy groups, will do our best to minimize the damage caused by this bad decision,” the MEP concluded.