ESPORG — 2025-09-05
News from Brussels
European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu visited yesterday a series of truck parking facilities operated by members of ESPORG, the European Secure Parking Organisation. The high-level delegation included representatives from DG EMPL and DG MOVE, the Governor of West Flanders Carl de Caluwé, the ESPORG delegation as well as the social partners IRU and ETF.
The purpose of the visit to a selection of truck parkings of various sizes and levels of security and comfort was to gain first-hand experience of the issues faced by professional truck drivers, in particular to find appropriate places to take their regulatory breaks and rests. Working conditions of drivers and continuous and ambitious EU co-funding to build new and upgrade existing truck parking areas were the two key topics of the visit.
Why is it important?
The EU suffers from a constantly increasing and worsening shortage of professional drivers, reaching already 0.5 million, which affects the long-distance segment in particular. If nothing is done, it is expected that this shortage would reach almost 1 million within the coming 3-5 years, thus threatening the very functioning of supply chains in Europe, mobility and economy.
It is also a matter of safety and security of local communities and this is of key importance for the EU.
The visit took EU officials from best-in-class Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPAs), such as Jabbeke’s Gold-Certified site — to not certified parkings like Westkerke motorway site and also to facilities in urgent need of upgrading, like the Zeebrugge Parking and Brugge Parking.
The “EU Parking Standard” is a legislative standard established by the European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1012— seting out harmonised safety, security and service requirements across the EU, including a certification system with four levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum). These standards are critical to ensuring that professional drivers can rest in safe, secure and decent conditions.
During the visit, EC Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu stressed the importance of safe and secure parking for professional drivers’ wellbeing, reaffirming the European Commission’s commitment: “Safe and secure parking isn’t just a logistical issue—it’s about guaranteeing drivers dignity, safety, and respect. When we invest in better places for them to rest and work, we not only make the job more appealing and tackle labour shortages, but also strengthen road transport as the backbone of Europe’s economy”.
A Growing Gap Between Needs and Infrastructure
A recent European Commission study coordinated by ESPORG revealed a critical shortage of 390,000 secure parking spaces in the EU — a figure expected to rise to 483,000 by 2040, even if more safe and secure truckparking areas are built during this period.
This shortage has major consequences:
Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas, the solution for drivers’ wellbeing
During the visit, Dirk Penasse, ESPORG General Manager, emphasized the link between secure parking, driver wellbeing and Europe’s competitiveness:
“Safe and Secure Parking Areas are much more than parking lots. They are homes away from home for drivers, hubs of security for cargo and magnets for economic growth enabling logistics flows in the regions that host them. Europe cannot afford to ignore this infrastructure gap — urgent support for upgrading and building new secure parking areas is essential for drivers’ wellbeing, road safety and the resilience of supply chains.”
ESPORG is calling for coordinated European and national action, including:
CEF Funding: Enabling the Deployment and Upgrade of Europe’s Secure Parking Network
The role of EU funding, particularly through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), is central to addressing the critical shortage of safe and secure parking areas across the EU. This year alone, the EU has invested more than €91 million dedicated to safe and secure parking projects. ESPORG is proud that its Members Lead the Way with more than 80% of the allocated funding, as also seen in the previous CEF allocations. This demonstrates both the effectiveness of ESPORG’s network and the importance of CEF as a financing tool to advance Europe’s road transport infrastructure. Overall, the EU has supported over 200 parking areas across Europe.
A European Momentum for Secure Truck Parking
The EC high level visit – from Jabbeke’s Gold-certified parking member of ESPORG, built with CEF funding of around 1,2 million EUR to the planned new facilities in Zeebrugge – highlighted positive momentum and a clear willingness at European level to accelerate the roll-out of secure parking areas, to ensure that drivers are safe and trucks and cargo secure. Local and regional authorities have an important role to play in creating the conditions for safe, secure and decent parking facilities. Therefore, a strong public-private partnership (PPP) is crucial.
Still, ESPORG warns that progress remains too slow compared to the urgent needs of the sector.
“Every euro invested in secure parking pays off,” Dirk Penasse added. “It reduces crime, improves working conditions, and strengthens Europe’s logistics chain. But investment must happen faster.”
ESPORG will continue to work with the European Commission, Member States, local authorities and private partners to deliver on this agenda for a comprehensive European network of Safe and Secure Parking Areas.