Unilateral State to State measures requiring hauliers to take PCR tests
17.2.2021
Question for written answer E-000973/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (Renew)
As of last week, the German authorities are requiring hauliers entering their territory from the Czech Republic to present a negative PCR or antigen test certificate. A similar measure was adopted by Austria a few days later, but affecting all hauliers crossing its borders. Italy in turn started to impose the same requirement on Austrian hauliers travelling through the country as of today. Thus, it would appear that the various States seem to want to return to the situation at the beginning of the pandemic, when unilateral measures put the movement of goods and the provision of essential services in the EU at risk. The European Road Haulers Association (UETR) warned today of the chaos to which this situation may lead, which is beginning to generate the first holdups.
- 1.What measures can the Commission take in the short term to remedy this problem?
- 2.In view of the type of activity that is the subject of the restriction, is there any epidemiological study on the basis of which this practice would be advisable?
- 3.If it is found that these measures may conceal protectionist practices and market fragmentation, could they lead to infringement proceedings?