The International Road Transport Uniuon (IRU) has welcomed the European Commission’s new Fair Labour Mobility Package, saying simpler qualification rules and greater digitalisation could help the road transport sector tackle its continuing shortage of professional drivers.

The package includes measures covering social security, recognition of skills and qualifications – including those obtained by third-country nationals – and a strengthened role for the European Labour Authority (ELA).

IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian said: “IRU supports the Commission’s ambition to make labour mobility both fairer and simpler across the EU, protecting mobile workers while making compliance more manageable for the companies that employ them. We are particularly grateful to Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu for putting digitalisation at the heart of these reforms.”

Of particular significance for hauliers is the proposed European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), designed to further digitalise documents such as the A1 certificate and make cross-border verification easier.

IRU also welcomed moves to simplify the recognition of professional qualifications obtained outside the EU.

With road freight and passenger transport facing a structural shortage of professional drivers, the organisation believes faster recognition of third-country qualifications could support legal recruitment while maintaining EU training and safety standards.

IRU also wants the strengthened ELA to deliver more consistent enforcement.

“A stronger ELA should mean more consistent enforcement, greater legal certainty and clearer practical guidance for operators and drivers across Europe, with a clear focus on road transport as one of the most highly regulated and cross-border sectors of the European economy,” said Marian.

IRU says the ultimate test will be whether the reforms actually reduce red tape for operators.

“For road transport, success will ultimately be measured by whether the new rules reduce repetitive administrative procedures and deliver simpler, faster and more predictable processes for operators and drivers in practice.

“It will be important to ensure that new requirements remain proportionate and do not result in excessive additional costs or administrative burdens for operators,” concluded Marian.