REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the implementation in 2011-2012 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport and of Directive 2002/15/EC on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities (27th report from the Commission on the implementation of the social legislation relating to road transport) {SWD(2014) 342 final}.

Abstract

This report reviews the implementation by Member States of the four interrelated legislative acts establishing social rules in road transport and their enforcement regime. These legislative acts are: Regulation (EC) No 561/20061, which establishes rules on driving times, breaks and rest periods for professional drivers; Directive 2006/22/EC2, which determines minimum requirements for enforcement of these rules; Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/853 on recording equipment, i.e. main tool to control the drivers' compliance with social rules and Directive 2002/15/EC4, which sets out complementary provisions on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities (here-after "the Road Transport Working Time Directive). Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 requires Member States to communicate every two years the necessary information to enable the Commission to draw up a report on the application of that Regulation and the developments in the fields in question. Article 13 of Directive 2002/15/EC provides that Member States should report to the Commission on the implementation of the Directive, indicating the views of the two sides of the industry. The reports on Directive 2002/15/EC and Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 can be presented in one singly document as both legislative acts cover the same two-year reporting period and establish complementary rules for professional drivers. This report covers the 2011-2012 timeframe. It is based mainly on the national reports, for which the submission deadline expired on 30 September 2013. Its aim is to provide an overview of how Member States have implemented the above-mentioned set of legislative acts and to highlight the key challenges in enforcement and application of the rules in force. The report contains both quantitative and qualitative data on checks carried out at roadside and premises, offences detected as well as information on the implementation of Road Transport Working Time Directive. The Commission report is complemented by a Commission Staff Working Document that contains supplementary information on penalties, cooperation between Member States, comments from enforcement authorities and detailed statistical data. The report comprises four sections that cover various aspects of implementation of social legislation. Section I summarizes the quality and timeliness of national data submissions. Section II provides for the fully fledged analysis of the national quantitative data provided on checks and offences, whereas Section III gives a descriptive outline of the Member States implementation of Directive 2002/15/EC. Section IV presents the main conclusions drawn. Objectives and key provisions of social legislation in road transport, as well as other aspects and detailed statistics concerning the results of checks carried out, are described in the Commission Staff Working Document accompanying this report.