European Commission presents guidance to ensure continuous flow of goods across EU borders via green lanes and air cargo
Continued and uninterrupted land, waterborne and air cargo services are of crucial importance for the functioning of the EU's internal market and its effective response to the current public health crisis. This week, we issued new practical advice to keep freight moving via green lanes and air cargo. Member States were requested to designate all relevant internal border-crossing points on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) as 'green lane' border crossings. These crossings should be open to all freight vehicles, whatever goods they are carrying. Crossing the border, including any checks and health screening, should not take more than 15 minutes. We also called on EU Member States to support air cargo operations during the coronavirus crisis. Our new guidance recommends operational and organisational steps to keep essential transport flows moving, including medical supplies and personnel. Member States were also invited to grant temporary traffic rights for additional air cargo operations from outside the EU if restrictions would normally apply, even if these cargo operations are conducted with passenger aircraft. Member States were advised to temporarily remove night curfews and/or slot restrictions at airports for essential air cargo operations, and to facilitate the use of passenger aircraft for cargo-only operations.
