site.btaBulgarian Socialist Leader Writes to MEPs Asking Them not to Support Mobility Package as Is

Sofia, June 12 (BTA) - Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Kornelia Ninova wrote to Udo Bullmann, the leader of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, and all members of his group, asking them not to support the Mobility Package as it is. "We cannot accept the dual standards which are being pushed through in the transport sector: heavy restrictions on the international haulage of goods, where companies from Central and Eastern Europe have a leading role, and extreme liberalization of the carriage of passengers where the market leaders are companies from Western Europe," writes Ninova as quoted by her party press office.

Controversial changes in the rules requiring of international truck drivers to take rests and return to their home country more frequently - or else be paid as much as their peers in the country where they work and be charged for social and medical insurance according to the local rates - were recently approved by the transport committee of the European Parliament.

Ninova said if approved conclusively, the package will result in widespread failure of road haulage companies in Central and Eastern Europe and loss of hundreds of jobs.

Ninova goes on to say that her party would support all kind of measures aimed at improving the conditions for work and rest, increasing incomes and providing security for workers in all sectors of the economy, including international automobile transport. They also call for improving controls on international transport and fighting unfair competition.

Ninova voices fears that under the guise of the most noble of goals, the European regulatory framework can be put to the service of corporate lobbies and political processes in one member state or another. "We believe that the common future of Europe is only possible through mutual respect for everybody's interests, dialogue and understanding - not by allowing the strong to dictate its terms to the weaker," wrote Ninova.