EU Advocacy » ESBA's Key Results » Key Results 06/07 » Secure Operator
Enhancing Supply Chain Security (Secure Operator)
ESBA has welcomed the news that Dutch MEP, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Rapporteur on the Parliament's transport committee, has called on the Commission to withdraw and reconsider its draft Regulation on enhancing supply chain security. The Commission’s proposal sought to protect freight transport against terrorist attacks by obliging Member States to offer “secure operator” status to road, rail and inland waterways companies, which complied with detailed security requirements.
Whilst the small business community is fully committed to tackling the threat of terrorism, ESBA has led calls for withdrawal of the proposal at EU level. The measures proposed in the regulation would have cost SMEs throughout the supply chain up to 55 billion Euros. Beyond this vast financial burden, ESBA’s concerns have focused on the proposal’s scope, its real security dividend, the authenticity of the proposed voluntary approach, and an apparent lack of consultation during its preparation.
Campaign Activities included actions targeted at the Media and Policy Makers. Of particular note is ESBA’s organisation of a Working Group, to discuss the proposal with similarly minded organisations on 16/11/06. The Group provided a platform for leading sectoral and cross-sectoral groups to debate common key concerns, a workable or alternative solution and next steps. These have gained support from Labour, Conservative and now Liberal MEPs. A report is available here.
Despite the withdrawal of the draft regulation, the prospect of an alternative proposal in the near future is high. Indeed, the Rapporteur has suggested extending the scope of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) concept to international and intra-EU trade, about which ESBA is also concerned. In this context, ESBA has reiterated its call to the Commission towork more closely with business to reach practical and effective solutions to the challenges posed by terrorism in 2007.
Page last updated: 20/02/2008 11:25:37 AM