Lorry ban talks break down

 EU governments have failed to reach an agreement on new rules for lorry journeys at weekends and public holidays.

"There was a healthy blocking minority which showed no signs of budging," a council spokesman told EUpolitix.com after the talks in Luxembourg on Friday.

"This made reaching an agreement today impossible."

The proposals, which have been in the offing for seven years, have always been contentious and EU insiders admit that hopes for an agreement were ambitious.

The present patchwork of restrictions across Europe makes it difficult for hauliers to plan their trips, and the Commission proposals would put current bans on hold and harmonise existing restrictions.

But a blocking minority made up of Germany, Austria, the UK, France, Slovenia, Malta, Luxembourg and others argue that restrictions should be left to the discretion of national governments.

The dossier will now go back to working group level where negotiations will continue ahead of the next transport council under the new Dutch EU presidency.

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