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DRAFT REPORT (COM(2025)0773 – C100367/2025 – 2025/0407(COD))

On the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council empowering Austria to amend its existing bilateral road transport agreement with Switzerland with a view to authorising cabotage operations in the course of the provision of international road passenger transport services by coach and bus in the border regions between the two countries

TRAN-PR-785404

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Elissavet VozembergVrionidi

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The draft report concerns a proposed decision empowering Austria to amend its bilateral road transport agreement with Switzerland to allow cabotage operations in border regions during international coach and bus services. The rapporteur supports the proposal and proposes one amendment to the legal basis.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes to support the Commission proposal, with an amendment to the legal basis to cite only Article 91 TFEU, not Article 2(1).

Key points

  1. The draft report supports the Commission proposal to empower Austria to authorise cabotage operations in border regions during international road passenger transport by coach and bus between Austria and Switzerland.
  2. The proposed amendment removes Article 2(1) TFEU from the legal basis, citing that Article 91 TFEU alone provides the legal basis for transport acts under the ordinary legislative procedure.
  3. The cabotage operations would be limited to specific Austrian border regions: administrative districts of Bludenz, Bregenz, Dornbirn, Feldkirch in Vorarlberg and the district of Landeck in Tyrol.
  4. The authorisation is subject to conditions of no discrimination between EU-established carriers and no distortion of competition.
  5. The report notes that cabotage by third-country carriers affects the internal market for coach and bus services under Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 and the EU-Switzerland Land Transport Agreement, which does not authorise cabotage except for pre-existing bilateral rights.
  6. The report explains that Austria's commitments fall within the Union's exclusive competence, but the Union may empower Member States under Article 2(1) TFEU, requiring a legislative act under Article 91 TFEU.

Who is affected

  • Austria and Switzerland: would be allowed to amend their bilateral agreement to permit cabotage in specified border regions.
  • Coach and bus operators: carriers from third countries could perform cabotage in Austrian border regions under the amended agreement.
  • People living and working in border regions: would benefit from improved cross-border public transport links and more choice.

Legal basis: Article 91 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union