Europe increases funding for safe hostels

  The European Commission has committed €320 million to develop safetruck stops across the European Union (EU), a landmark investmentthat is part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Programme.

This call, with a deadline of 21 January 2025, aims to modernise the roadtransport infrastructure in the EU network, by incentivising thedevelopment of new safe and secure parking areas that will be certifiedin accordance with European regulations.It also seeks to improve the safety and security of existing parking areasthat are certified or will be certified in accordance with the standard. 

On the subject, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) called onall eligible industry stakeholders to apply and use this initiative. 

The international body stressed that this announcement by the EuropeanCommission is an important milestone in the creation of safer and moresupportive working conditions for drivers in Europe.

He recalled that, after years of constant work, the call for proposals is afundamental step in addressing driver safety and the lack of safe stopoptions, and is a step towards improving the attractiveness andsustainability of the profession. 

"By meeting high safety standards, the new parking facilities will benefitthe well-being of drivers and improve the safety of goods, directlyaddressing key issues of attractiveness that undermine the drivingprofession," it said in a statement. 

Raluca Marian, IRU's Director of Advocacy in the EU, said that this fundingcomes at a time when finding drivers for long-haul services is becomingincreasingly difficult: "Now is the time for stakeholders to make themost of this opportunity and come up with projects that tangiblyimprove the sector. 

"However, we recognise that this is a challenge and that EU funding alonewill not be enough to solve the problem of the paradores. Many projectscannot materialize because local authorities refuse to issue the necessarypermits or take too long. The EU must establish, as soon as possible, a planto complete the EU's core network of safe truck stops," he added. 

According to the IRU, operators in Europe face a significant shortage ofsafe rest areas and are frequently forced to rest in unsafe or ill-equippedlocations. This widespread shortage has affected their work,contributing to difficult working conditions that deter young peoplefrom entering the profession, and making it difficult to recruit andretain drivers, exacerbating the shortage of drivers in the EU. 

It is worth mentioning that, according to data from the IRU itself, in 2023,there were 233,000 vacancies for truck drivers in Europe and 44% ofcompanies in the region reported "facing very serious difficulties" in fillingsuch positions.