Carbotage

When the 10 new members Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czechia, Hungary as well as Malta and Cyprus) entered the EC on May 1, 2004, release of Carbotage i.e., access to the national road haulage market did not automatically follow. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Czechia have a general transition period of 2 years as from May 1, 2004 till release of Carbotage, Poland and Hungary must wait 3 years where a general Carbotage ban will be applied in so far since there will be no agreement on release of Carbotage with the EC or current member states for that period. These transitional times may be prolonged for Poland or Hungary (in case of market disturbances, for instance) and for the other five state 2 years with an extension option of one further year (so-called 3+2 resp. 2+2+1 solution). It were only Malta, Slovenia and Cyprus which were granted immediate freedom of Carbotag with their joining the EC on May 1, 2004. On the other hand, the "old" and the "new" member states are free to exchange both Carbotag permits and Carbotage release by and by based on bilateral agreements.

Besides Germany, a number of other EC member states have concerns about too quick liberalization of market and release of Carbotage without knowing the exact cost elements in the individual countries. With the Departments of Transport responsible, corresponding comparisons of cost are being carried out between Polish, Czech and German carriers.