Source: European Parliament
The Commission is concerned about the shortage of professional bus and truck drivers in the EU and it is of the view that t he current driver shortage which keeps growing should first and foremost be addressed by making the profession more attractive . The EU has recently taken several measures to improve the regulatory framework in which professional drivers operate in the EU.
The Mobility Package[1] introduced significant improvements of the working conditions of drivers and thus increased the attractiveness of the profession.
The Commission is also supporting, through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)[2], the development of new and the upgrade of existing safe and secure truck parking areas (SSTPAs) to allow drivers to spend their rest periods in adequate conditions. The existence of sufficient SSTPAs is considered by drivers as an essential element for their wellbeing.
The Commission is also assisting Member States and the relevant stakeholders in increasing the attractiveness of the profession through various programmes[3].
It is also in regular contact with the relevant stakeholders with a view to further improving the working conditions of drivers and incentivise more women and young people to take up the profession of driver.
T he Commission has also launched a study that investigates the conditions for employment of third-country drivers in the various EU Member States and into the level of qualification and skills that drivers from t hird countries already have when they arrive in the EU.
Once the results of this study are available, the Commission may consider any further measures as regards Certificate of Professional Competence , as appropriate.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2020/1054 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2020, Regulation (EU) 2020/1055 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2020 and Directive (EU) 2020/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2020, all OJ L 249, 31.07.2020.
- [2] https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/connecting-europe-facility/transport-infrastructure_en
- [3] Such as the European Social Fund Plus (https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en), E rasmus+ (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/), the reinforced Youth Guarantee (https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1079&langId=en) and Invest EU (https://europa.eu/investeu/home_en)