The European Commission today has requested the EU Council to authorize the opening of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova with a view to concluding road freight transport agreements between the EU and both countries, the European External Action Service said in a press release.

“With traditional transport routes in the region now closed, the initiative seeks to secure supply chains, including food security, following Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine”, reads the press release.

Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean, said that the agreements aim to partly liberalize road transport for their hauliers in the EU. This will allow Ukraine to shift important export goods from sea routes – currently unavailable due to the Russian military aggression. “The blockage of the Black Sea ports has also negatively affected Moldova, which has lost essential transport routes through Ukraine for its own exports, and whose economy has been heavily impacted by the war in Ukraine. Our proposal will provide immediate relief to the economies of these two countries”, said the Commissioner.

The Commission proposes more flexibility for road freight transport, allowing Ukrainian, Moldovan and EU hauliers to transit through and operate between each other's territories. The proposal also includes clauses on the recognition of Ukrainian driving licenses and certificates of professional competence to further support Ukrainian drivers.