Press Release: European Parliament supports proposal to reduce paper work for 300.000 freight carriers, saving € 160 million

On 15 January, 2008, the European Parliament adopted the European Commission's proposal to remove unnecessary burdens for transport companies. Freight carriers no longer have to carry separate transport documents, explaining i.e. frontier crossing points, routes to be taken or distance travelled. In addition, this action rationalised outdated reporting requirements dating from 1960, allowing information on intra community transport flows, such as name and address of the consignor, nature and weight of the goods and place at which the goods are to be delivered to be collected through other available means. The proposal also aligned the remaining information requirements with provisions in existing international conventions, while facilitating freight carriers’ opportunities by allowing them to use simpler means of documentation. This simplification applied to more than 300.000 freight carriers across Europe, a majority of which is small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). It is part of the Fast Track Actions within an Action Programme which has the objective to cut administrative burdens on businesses in the EU by 25% in 2012 (IP/07/77).