ATTO discusses Combined Transport Directive reform at European Parliament

The Association of Trailer and Truck Operations (ATTO) discussed potential reforms of the longstanding Combined Transport Directive at the European Parliament. 

Introduced in 1992, the Directive was designed to promote multimodal freight transport over road-only methods. 

In meetings hosted by MEP Daniel Attard together with the Board of Directors of the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR), ATTO warned that the current definition of combined transport doesn’t reflect the realities of island Member States like Malta or sufficiently support the modernisation of intermodal freight within the EU Single Market.

ATTO Chairman Joseph Bugeja highlighted the structural challenges faced by operators, particularly those in geographically constrained markets and stressed the urgency of reform to a 34-year-old directive.

MEP Peter Agius also stressed that the directive should evolve in line with today’s transport and logistics landscape.

As part of its visit, ATTO also held separate bilateral meetings with Dr Alex Agius Saliba, Dr Peter Agius, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

ATTO also engaged with its international partner, the International Road Union, of whom ATTO is a member, meeting with Dr Raluca Marian, Director of EU Advocacy, and Mr Mark Billiet, Associate Director. 

“Through these engagements, ATTO has ensured that the concerns of our members were once again clearly communicated at the highest levels in line with our ongoing efforts to shape legislation that reflects the realities of all Member States and in support of a more efficient, modern, and competitive transport sector,” Mr Bugeja said.