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Members Corner
The European Secure Parking Organisation (ESPORG), together with the International Road Transport Union representing transport operators and the European Transport Workers’ Federation representing professional truck drivers, has addressed a joint letter to European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu, underlining the critical shortage of safe and secure truck parking areas in the EU. Industry and labour have jointly coordinated EU transport sector’s call on the European Commission to Building an EU-wide network of safe and secure truck parking areas. The goal: guarantee drivers’ wellbeing, road safety and the resilience of supply chains.
The joint letter is based on the findings of the European Commission study coordinated by ESPORG, in collaboration with PANTEIA and TIS, which revealed a shortfall of 390,000 safe parking spaces today, projected to rise to 483,000 by 2040 if no urgent action is taken.
Addressing the need to overcome the reluctance from local and regional authorities, ESPORG General Manager Dirk Penasse highlighted the organisation’s vision:
“Truck parkings should be created as a home away from home. Lorry drivers and their vehicles should not cause any nuisance to the local community. The fears of the local community should be addressed, and it should be made clear that the expected nuisance will not occur. In this way, we can create a win-win situation for both the local communities and the lorry drivers.”
Dirk Penasse added:
“Motivating Member States to plan, permit and develop SSTPAs as a general interest priority, creating public-private partnerships (PPPs);, and removing local permitting barriers are essential steps. Urban planning must adapt to allow architectural accreditation for modern, safe truck parking areas.”
ESPORG and the transport social partners jointly urged the Commission to ensure consistent EU co-funding, notably through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), as part of a long-term European strategy. To translate these priorities into action, the partners propose setting up a European Commission Task Force under the coordination of EVP Minzatu and Transport Commissioner Tzitzikostas’ Cabinets, bringing together ESPORG, as the representative organization of secure parking areas and social partners representing road transport operators and professional drivers, together with experts from DG EMPL and DG MOVE.
Working together on driver wellbeing matters
ESPORG welcomes the strong cooperation with the European Commission and the EU social partners on improving drivers’ working and resting conditions. Many national and EU social partners have already signed the Wellbeing Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring safe, decent and dignified conditions for professional drivers. ESPORG now calls on all relevant European authorities and stakeholders to join this initiative and demonstrate that drivers’ wellbeing is a shared responsibility across Europe. ESPORG - the driving force behind the Wellbeing Campaign has launched this European initiative in March 2025, with the support of the European Commission and leading industry partners.
Building Momentum: EC Executive Vice-President Mînzatu’s Visit to ESPORG Members
This joint letter follows the landmark visit of European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu on 4 September 2025 to several ESPORG members’ truck parking facilities in Belgium. Accompanied by the Cabinet Member Francesco Corti, DG MOVE – Filip-Alexandru Negreanu - Arboreanu, DG EMPL- Antoine Kasel, Governor of West Flanders, Carl Decaluwé, and representatives of ESPORG – European Secure Parking Organisation, International Road Transport Union, European Transport Workers’ Federation and its Belgium member BTB ABVV, EVP Mînzatu gained first-hand insights into the daily challenges faced by drivers.
BTB ABVV Parking Book – 11th Edition
As part of this wider effort, ESPORG also welcomes the forthcoming 11th edition of the BTB ABVV Parking Book, which will be presented to the press and public on 25 October 2025. For two years, the transport union once again conducted research along Belgian and European motorway parking areas. It sought to find out what truck drivers are thinking and what their needs are, but also to assess the state of the infrastructure. The book will be available online from October 5, 2025, at www.btb-abvv.be.
Towards a European Network of Safe and Secure Parkings by 2030
With driver shortages expected to approach one million in the coming years, the need for safe, secure and decent parking facilities is more pressing than ever. ESPORG, together with EU social partners, call the European commission setting the path towards a fully functional EU network of safe and secure truck parking areas by 2030.
About ESPORG
Founded in 2010, ESPORG – The European Secure Parking Organisation – is the leading organisation promoting safe and secure truck parking across Europe. With more than 120 members, ESPORG works with EU and national authorities, regional and local partners and the private sector to improve drivers’ working and resting conditions, strengthen logistics security and develop Europe’s network of Safe and Secure Parking Areas.
More information: www.esporg.eu