Proposal for a Decision empowering Italy to negotiate and conclude an agreement with Switzerland authorising cabotage operations in the border regions between the two countries

Summary:

Proposal presented on 13 May 2019 by the European Commission concerning the provision of international passenger transport services by coach and bus in the border regions between Italy and Switzerland.

Further information:

The two-way carriage of passengers and goods by road between Switzerland and the EU is regulated by the Land Transport Agreement between the EU and Switzerland. Under the Agreement, the transport of passengers by coach and bus between two points situated on the territory of the same Contracting Party by carriers established in the territory of the other Contracting Party, known as cabotage, is not authorised.

In February 2018, Italy informed the Commission that it would like to negotiate and conclude an agreement with Switzerland which authorises cabotage operations during the provision of passenger transport services by coach and bus in the border regions between the two countries. In the June 2018 meeting of the EU-Switzerland Inland Transport Committee, Switzerland informed the Commission that it was also interested in concluding such an agreement.

The proposed Decision empowers Italy to negotiate and conclude an agreement with Switzerland authorising cabotage operations in the respective border regions of Italy and Switzerland in the course of the provision of coach and bus services between the two countries, provided that there is no discrimination between carriers established in the Union and no distortion of competition.