Road transport industry stakeholders are “receptive” to calls on the government to include among wider negotiating points with the EU an exemption from the Schengen area 90/180 rule that would capture coach drivers once the Entry/Exit System (EES) begins operation, RHA has said.
Need for such an exemption to be delivered has already been raised by multiple parties, including trade bodies and operators, with RHA among those to have highlighted that a workable solution is vital.
Managing Director Richard Smith notes how when EES starts rollout late this year, monitoring of compliance with the rule – which permits citizens of third countries including the UK to spend up to 90 of any 180 days in the Schengen area – will be strengthened.
“We have been working with, and supporting, other stakeholders to get it onto the government’s agenda ahead of its talks with the EU next month,” says Mr Smith. “And we are pleased that they have been receptive.”
However, he cautions that some reports suggest “a number of EU member states have balked at our government’s asks, with the UK remaining firm footed that it is not seeking to rejoin the single market or a customs union.”
The need of coach operators and drivers for a pragmatic solution is highlighted by RHA alongside that of hauliers working with UK-based artists touring within Schengen.
The trade association adds how increasing hopes that a deal will be struck to support citizens of the UK and those of Schengen states who are aged between 18 and 30 to travel and work freely between those territories is important to overall negotiations.
“This gives us and UK businesses concerned about the impact of EES enforcement hope that a visa exemption scheme will be a resolution,” Mr Smith continues.
Leger Shearings said in April that it would “fully support” an exemption for professional drivers from the 90/180 rule. Another operator warned then that failure to reach a compromise could lead to some coach businesses scaling down European work.
Even though there is no certainty of an exemption being agreed, Mr Smith says that businesses “will take heart” at the willingness between the UK and EU “to be collaborative and find ways to improve mutual benefit for their people and economies.”
