ATTO engages EU transport committee on driver shortage, ETS costs, and urgent reforms for Island States

A meeting held with the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism and the Association of Tractor and Trailer Operators (ATTO) addressed the urgent challenges facing Malta’s international trailer operators and raised the alarm on the worsening driver shortage and mounting regulatory burdens threatening the country’s supply chain particularly in the context of EU-wide policy frameworks that often fail to take into account the specific realities of island states.

“The shortage of drivers on the international network has now become a national issue and with 80 per cent of Malta’s goods depending on international road transport, this is no longer just a logistics problem – it’s a matter of national interest,” stated Joseph Bugeja, Chairman of ATTO.

“ATTO has called for an expedited, streamlined mechanism for issuing work permits to qualified TCN drivers. These drivers, many of whom do not reside permanently in Malta, do not burden national infrastructure yet contribute significantly to the economy and tax base,” he added.

The driver shortage is part of a broader EU-wide phenomenon. A recent International Road Transport Union (IRU) report revealed that more than three million truck driver positions remain unfilled across 36 countries. However, Malta’s situation is compounded by restrictive procedures in recruiting third-country nationals (TCNs).

He acknowledged, however, the recent improvements in administrative efficiency: “Identità Malta and Jobsplus have both been extremely supportive in fast-tracking applications, and we thank them for recognising the urgency.”

ATTO also pressed the TRAN Committee to review the disproportionate impact of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) on shipping-dependent island nations. Under current rules, the ETS imposes an estimated €408 in additional costs per trailer for round-trip freight journeys between Malta and Genoa.

“These costs are inevitably passed onto Maltese consumers,” Mr Bugeja warned. “We are not calling for exemptions, but for tailored measures that reflect the geographical and logistical vulnerabilities of member states like Malta.”

Call for task force on combined transport reform

Another key item on the agenda was the long-standing impasse around combined transport regulations. Mr Bugeja proposed the formation of a dedicated EU task force to address the issue, with the specific mandate to ensure that island states are not left behind.

“This discussion has been dragging on for too long. We need urgent, decisive action. I strongly insisted that Malta’s realities as an island state be front and centre in any reform process.”

Momentum building for island-state transport agenda

Over the past 18 months, ATTO has intensified its engagement with EU institutions and counterparts in fellow island nations like Ireland and Cyprus. Earlier this year, the association hosted its first international transport and logistics conference, Turning Challenges Into Opportunities, drawing stakeholders from across Europe.

“Malta’s supply chain cannot remain at the mercy of one-size-fits-all regulations,” added Mr Bugeja. “We will continue to work with our partners in Brussels to ensure that island nations are no longer treated as peripheral, but as equal participants in the European transport ecosystem.”