Dear colleagues

 

The date of the physical meeting is getting closer. We are therefore busy preparing for the meeting. The focus will be on our cooperation and knowledge exchange. You are expected to prepare for the topics and questions listed in the programme below. You may, if you wish, send any answers, questions or comments in advance by e-mail.

Many of you have already registered and with the contribution of United Kingdom, ELA, Malta, HN Post en Zonen, NIWO and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands a lot of interaction is expected among the participants. If you have not yet registered, please do so as soon as possible at internationalaffairs@niwo.nl

 

Following the invitation, please also find information regarding the accommodation including the booking link. (We have been able to arrange a good offer with the Hotel)

 

Accommodation (NEW LOCATION near by the location of last year)

Hilton The Hague

Zeestraat 35

The Hague, 2518 AA

Booking link: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/dunniwodlodgeniwo2026/

 

 

(You can also find all information at International NIWO)

 

Possible visit by boat to the Canals of The Hague

Due to the success of last year, we are considering planning a Friday afternoon programme again that includes a sightseeing tour by boat on the canals of The Hague. 

To find out whether there is sufficient interest, we would like to ask you whether you would appreciate this and whether you would be able to attend. Please let us know about your possible attendance by the end of October.

 

 

Programme

 

The coming event is the follow-up of the meeting held in 2024 and 2025. The focus of the meeting is still the cooperation between member states elaborated in Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 of the European Parliament. Also, the council stated that a better organised administrative cooperation between Member States would improve the effectiveness of the monitoring of undertakings operating in several Member States.

Based on several case studies, the different topics are discussed in detail.  

 

Programme

THURSDAY 26 November 2026

 

09:00 - 09:30                     Reception and registration

09:30 - 09:50                     Opening and introduction

 

09:50 - 11:00                     Theme Safety and resilience

 

ERRU

 

Today most Member States have implemented the ERRU 3.0 system, yet difficulties and questions remain regarding the use of this system.

• Which difficulties are you still experiencing with the ERRU 3.0 system in your country?
• Regarding alignment; How do Member States apply the principle of proportionality? Is the specific context of an infringement considered when assigning penalty points?

 

Military mobility

 

Military mobility calls for quick and uniform procedures for military transport across borders. To have sufficient equipment available in times of crisis, the support of private parties will be necessary, and civilian transport operators can play a key role.

We are curious to know whether other Member States also call on the support of private companies to compensate for the shortage of equipment.

• How does your country make use of private initiatives? Do you have a different solution to addressing the problem of defense material shortages?

 

11:00 - 11:30                     Coffee break

 

11:30 - 12:30                     Theme Social affairs

 

ELA

 

Last year, the ELA gave a presentation on the remuneration tool. We are curious to know how the tool works in practice.

• Is it widely used in your Member State, and what is the general impression?

 

At the same time, practical questions remain about the Posting of Drivers Directive, this against the background of driver shortages and the growing number of third country drivers. The ELA will give a presentation on the Posting of Drivers Directive, which will provide us with more insight.

• Recently, NIWO has received questions about employment agencies that subcontract temporary agency workers to other employment agencies. Do you have similar experiences and do you observe this trend as well, and what is the ELA’s view on this?

.

Passenger transport (UK)

 

Short presentation by the United Kingdom to set out their position on Passenger Transport.

• UK would be keen to understand how other states implement EC1071 and EC1073 with regard to passenger transport.  

 

12:30 - 14:00                      LUNCH

 

14:15 - 15:30                     Theme Sustainability (1)

 

Weights and dimensions

 

Rules on vehicle weights and dimensions have a direct impact on the efficiency, sustainability and safety of road freight transport. Allowing heavier or longer vehicle combinations may reduce the number of journeys and lower emissions per tonne of freight, but it can also place additional demands on roads, bridges and enforcement authorities. Differences between national rules may create further challenges for international transport operations.

• How are compliance with weight and dimension limits monitored and enforced in practice?
• Are current roads, bridges and loading facilities suitable for heavier or longer vehicle combinations?

 

Multimodal transport (Malta)

 

Multimodal transport combines different modes of transport, such as road, rail, inland waterways and short-sea shipping, within a single freight journey. Shifting more goods from road to rail or water can reduce congestion and emissions, but limited rail capacity, low water levels and the need for infrastructure investment remain significant challenges.

• What are the main practical barriers to shifting freight from road to rail, inland waterways or short-sea shipping?
• Which infrastructure investments are needed to increase the capacity and reliability of multimodal transport?
• Which financial or regulatory incentives could encourage transport operators to use multiple modes of transport?

 

Empty runs (Malta)

 

Reducing empty runs is an important step towards making road freight transport more efficient and sustainable. Many trucks still travel without cargo, resulting in unnecessary road movements, higher costs and avoidable emissions. Better coordination and the exchange of available freight information could help transport operators increase load factors and reduce the number of empty runs. With that efficiency levels rise as well as sustainability levels.

• How could transport operators improve the exchange of information on available loads and vehicle capacity?
• Which incentives or policy measures could encourage transport operators to increase their load factors?

 

15:30 - 16:15                     Coffee break

 

16:15 - 17:30                     Theme Digitalization

 

The digitalisation of road permits and Community licences.

 

After the successful introduction of the digital CEMT licence, attention is now turning to the digitalisation of road permits through the same CEMT system, using a separate module.

• If this digitalisation also proves successful, could that be a step towards a digital Community licence?
• What would be the next steps?

 

eFTI (Malta)

 

The Electronic Freight Transport Information Regulation is a part of the ‘Europe on the move’ package and its goal is to create safe, clean and efficient mobility.

                                               In Juli 2027 a full implementation will take place. From that day on, the mandatory information can be shared via the secure and certified IT platforms.

• What is the status of the process in your country?
• What difficulties do you expect to experience with/after the implementation of eFTI?

 

17:30 - 17:35                     Closure of the meeting

 

19:00 - 21:30                     DINNER (Offered by NIWO)

 

 

FRIDAY  27 November 2026

 

09:00 - 09:30                     Reception

 

09:30 - 10:45                     Theme Sustainability (2)

 

Alternative fuels

 

Against the background of the expected new proposed on Co2 standards for HDV’s and the improvement of AFIR. Alternative fuels can play an important role in reducing emissions from road transport. However, their wider use is still affected by challenges such as limited refuelling and charging infrastructure, differences in availability and cost, uncertainty about technical standards, and the need to ensure that alternative fuels deliver genuine environmental benefits throughout their life cycle.

• Which alternative fuels are currently being promoted or used in your country?
• What are the main practical and financial barriers to the use of alternative fuels by transport operators?

 

Electric vehicles

 

A presentation by H.N. Post en Zonen about the electrification of his Fleet with charging and battery facilities.

                   

10:45 - 11:15                     Coffee break

 

11:15 – 12:30                    Theme Administrative cooperation

 

Last year, we discussed further cooperation. However, due to changes within NIWO, little progress has been made so far. In the coming year, we would like to change that.

• Who would like to take the initiative together with NIWO to move this forward?

• How can we make sure to improve our cooperation even more?
• A few suggestions can be:
  • A different format with various informal breakout sessions.
  • Informal meeting at directors’ level.

 

12:30 - 14:00                     LUNCH 

14:00 – 16:00                    Boat tour on the canals of The Hague (depending on participation)

16:00                                    Departures of participants

 

Looking forward to seeing you all in The Hague.

 

Hans and Karin