European shippers association Clecat has reiterated its opposition to any form of suspension, even temporary, of the rules on cabotage between the Scandinavian countries and Eastern European states. This taking of position follows the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish transport federations asking their transport ministers to support them by allowing a six month suspension. This was also the opportunity for Clecat to restate its desire to arrive at a total removal of limits on merchandise transport in Europe, and thus at the very notion of cabotage.

According to Nicolette van der Jagt, Director General of Clecat, “Cabotage represents a very small proportion of the market. If national interest groups feel threatened by lower cost operators being free to penetrate their markets, they would do better to point out the advantages they offer in terms of service levels compared to an operator from another member state”.