Cabotage: transitional restrictions lifted for remaining 2004 accession states

As from 1 May 2009, hauliers from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary are no longer constrained by the transitional cabotage scheme that has been in place since those countries joined the EU on 1 May 2004.

Until 1 May 2009 hauliers from these countries were not allowed to carry out cabotage in the existing EU-15 countries. These domestic markets are now open to them, subject to the work meeting cabotage definition rules. GB international operators are, similarly, now allowed to carry out cabotage in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The 2007 accession states (Romania and Bulgaria), remain subject to a transitional 'no-cabotage' scheme that will expire on 1 January 2012.