Date: 2025-10-01Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2025/1997 of 25 September 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road as regards the continuation of the Agreement
**Executive Summary**
Council Decision (EU) 2025/1997 outlines the EU's position within the Joint Committee regarding the Agreement between the EU and Ukraine on freight carriage by road. It focuses on the agreement's continuation, with the aim of extending it until 31 March 2027. The decision was adopted on 25 September 2025 and commits the Commission to a study, to be delivered by 30 November 2026, regarding the agreement's impact on the road transport industry.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Agreement Continuation:**
* The Agreement between the EU and Ukraine on freight carriage by road, provisionally applied since 29 June 2022 and in force since 5 December 2022, is to be further prolonged.
* The EU's position in the Joint Committee is to support the continuation of the Agreement based on the attached draft decision.
* The Agreement is to be continued until 31 March 2027.
* **Conditions for Further Continuation:**
* Future continuations depend on satisfactory progress in aligning Ukrainian legislation with EU standards in road freight transport.
* Progress should be measured by the commission and reported to the Ad hoc working group by 30 January 2026, with assessments due by 31 May 2026 and 30 November 2026.
* **Impact Study:**
* The European Commission will launch a study on the impact of the Agreement on the road transport industry, including road safety concerns, at Union and national level.
* The study is to be delivered by 30 November 2026.
* **Ukrainian Legislative Alignment:**
* Ukraine needs to transpose the EU Acquis regarding establishment of a national electronic register of road transport undertakings.
* New Ukrainian vehicles registered from 1 July 2026 and operating under the agreement need to be equipped with a smart tachograph v2.
* The study will take into account the availability and capacity of workshops and training of personnel.
* Ukraine should align with EU provisions on driving times, breaks, rest periods and working times.
**Impact Analysis**
**EU Member States**
**Impact:** Some Member States have expressed concerns about the negative impact of the Agreement on the road transport industry.
**Action Required:** Review the Commission's impact study and potentially adjust national policies based on its findings.
**European Commission**
**Impact:** Responsible for representing the EU in the Joint Committee and launching the impact study.
**Action Required:** Take the position in the Joint Committee to support the continuation of the Agreement based on the draft decision, launch and deliver the impact study by 30 November 2026, and present initial and progress reports to the Ad hoc working group.
**Ukrainian Government**
**Impact:** Benefits from continued facilitation of road freight transport and support for the Solidarity Lanes; must align its legislation with EU standards.
**Action Required:** Align Ukrainian legislation with the EU acquis in the area of road freight transport and transpose the EU Acquis.
**Road Transport Industry (EU and Ukraine)**
**Impact:** Continued operation under the terms of the agreement; potential for changes due to legislative alignment and study findings.
**Action Required:** Monitor changes in regulations and prepare for potential operational adjustments.
Key Entities Referenced
Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road: A bilateral agreement facilitating road freight transport, extended to 31 March 2027
Joint Committee: A committee established by the Agreement to supervise its application and decide on its continuation.
Council Decision (EU) 2022/1158: The original Council Decision on the signing and provisional application of the Agreement.
Solidarity Lanes: The Agreement provides essential support to the effective functioning of these lanes.
European Union: One of the parties in the agreement with Ukraine
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1997 1.10.2025
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/1997
of 25 September 2025
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established
by the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road as
regards the continuation of the Agreement
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91 in conjunction with
Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road(1)(the ‘Agreement’) was
signed by the Union on, and has been provisionally applied since, 29 June 2022, in accordance with Council
Decision (EU) 2022/1158(2). It entered into force on 5 December 2022.
(2) Article 7(1) of the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee to supervise and monitor the application and
implementation of the Agreement and periodically review the functioning of the Agreement in light of its objectives.
Pursuant to Article 7(2) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee is to be convened at the latest three months before
the expiry of the Agreement in order to assess and decide the need for the continuation of the Agreement.
(3) Decision No 2/2023 of the Joint Committee(3) prolonged the duration of the Agreement until 30 June 2024.
(4) On 20 June 2024 the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine amending the Agreement(4) (the
‘Amending Agreement’) was signed by the Union, and has been provisionally applied since, in accordance with
Council Decision (EU) 2024/1876(5). The Amending Agreement prolonged the duration of the Agreement until
30 June 2025, with a tacit renewal for one period of six months. The Agreement has been tacitly renewed until
31 December 2025.
(5) In order for both the Union and Ukraine to continue benefitting from the positive effects of the Agreement, by
facilitating road freight transport between and through Union and Ukraine and supporting the effective functioning
of the Solidarity Lanes in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Agreement should be
continued until 31 March 2027.
(6) The Joint Committee, during its next meeting, is to adopt a decision on the need for a further continuation of the
Agreement. That decision will be binding on the Union.
(7) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Joint Committee as regards the
continuation of the Agreement.
(8) Due to the concerns and uncertainties raised by some Member States on the negative impact of the Agreement, the
Commission will launch a study on the impact of the Agreement on the road transport industry which will also look
into road safety concerns, at Union and national level.
(1) OJ L 179, 6.7.2022, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2022/1158/oj.
(2) Council Decision (EU) 2022/1158 of 27 June 2022 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the
Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road (OJ L 179, 6.7.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.
europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/1158/oj).
(3) OJ L 123, 8.5.2023, p. 36, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/929/oj.
(4) OJ L, 2024/1878, 2.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2024/1878/oj.
(5) Council Decision (EU) 2024/1876 of 20 June 2024 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the
Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine amending the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the
carriage of freight by road of 29 June 2022 (OJ L, 2024/1876, 2.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1876/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1997/oj 1/6EN
OJ L, 1.10.2025
(9) Any further continuation of the Agreement should be subject to satisfactory progress made on the alignment of
Ukrainian legislation with the Union acquis in the area of road freight transport that has not yet been transposed and
should take into account the results of the study on the impact of the Agreement on the road transport industry.
(10) The position of the Union within the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the
European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road (‘the Agreement’), as regards the continuation of the
Agreement shall be based on the draft decision of the Joint Committee attached to this Decision.
The representatives of the Union within the Joint Committee may agree to minor changes to the draft decision within the
Joint Committee without a further decision of the Council.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 25 September 2025.
For the Council
The President
M. BJERRE
2/6 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1997/ojEN
OJ L, 1.10.2025
DRAFT
DECISION No 3/2025 OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED BY THE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND UKRAINE ON THE CARRIAGE OF FREIGHT BY ROAD
of …
as regards the continuation of the Agreement
THE JOINT COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road(1) and in
particular Article 7(2) thereto,
Whereas:
(1) Decision 2/2023 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on
the carriage of freight by road (the ‘Agreement’) prolonged the Agreement until 30 June 2024. On 20 June 2024 the
Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine amending the Agreement(2)modified and further prolonged
the Agreement until 30 June 2025, with a tacit renewal for another period of six months. The Agreement has been
tacitly renewed until 31 December 2025.
(2) Pursuant to Article 7(2) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee is to be convened at the latest three months before
the expiry of the Agreement, in order to assess and decide the need for the continuation of the Agreement.
(3) The Union and Ukraine continue to benefit from the positive effects of the Agreement, by facilitating road freight
transport between and through Union and Ukraine. The Agreement has become an essential support to the effective
functioning of the Solidarity Lanes.
(4) The continuation of the Agreement should be understood as also contributing to the reconstruction of Ukraine
beyond Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
(5) It is therefore appropriate to continue the Agreement until 31 March 2027.
(6) The European Commission will launch a study on the impact of the Agreement on the road transport industry
which will also look into road safety concerns, at Union and national level, to be delivered by 30 November 2026.
(7) Any further continuation should be subject to satisfactory progress made on the alignment of Ukrainian legislation
with the Union acquis in the area of road freight transport by 30 November 2026. The alignment of Ukrainian
legislation should facilitate the proper functioning of road freight transport under this Agreement and should be
conducted in the context of the current accession negotiations which started on 14 December 2023,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Continuation of the Agreement
1. The Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road is hereby continued until
31 March 2027.
2. Any further prolongation should be subject to satisfactory progress made on the alignment of Ukrainian legislation
with the Union acquis in the area of road freight transport as stipulated in the Appendix to this decision.
(1) OJ EU L 179, 6.7.2022, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2022/1158/oj.
(2) OJ EU L, 2024/1878, 2.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2024/1878/oj.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1997/oj 3/6EN
OJ L, 1.10.2025
Article 2
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at …, …
For the Joint Committee
The Co-chairs
4/6 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1997/ojAppendix
Decision No 3/2025 of the Joint Committee
established by the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road
of …
as regards the continuation of the Agreement
EU Acquis to be transposed by UA(*) EU legal basis Legal implementation Comments
Establishment of a national electronic register of Article 16 of Regulation (EC) UA legislation
road transport undertakings complying with EU No 1071/2009
Possible Joint Committee Decision on
specifications
Commission Decision 2009/992/EU major infringements
Conditions related to the requirement of Article 5 of Regulation (EC) UA legislation
establishment No 1071/2009
Conditions related to requirements of good repute Article 6 of Regulation (EC) UA legislation
No 1071/2009
Newly registered vehicles in Ukraine as from Article 8(1) of Regulation (EU) UA legislation Decision 2/2025 of the Joint Committee already
1 July 2026 and operating under the Agreement No 165/2014 transposes most of the tachograph acquis
Possible Joint Committee Decision
to be equipped with a smart tachograph v2
Retrofit of smart tachograph v2 of the Ukrainian Article 3(4) and 3(4a) of Regulation (EU) UA legislation Decision 2/2025 of the Joint Committee already
fleet operating under the Agreement and not No 165/2014 transposes most of the tachograph acquis.
subject to the previous requirement
The availability and capacity of workshops and
training of personnel will be taken into account in
the assessment of this measure
Alignment with EU provisions regarding driving Article 6 to 9 of Regulation (EC) UA legislation This shall not include the connection to the social
times, breaks and rest periods No 561/2006 as amended by Regulation module of IMI
(EU) 2020/1054
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ENEU Acquis to be transposed by UA(*) EU legal basis Legal implementation Comments
Alignment with EU provisions regarding working Directive 2002/15/EC UA legislation This shall not include the connection to the social
times module of IMI
(*) For the purpose of assessing the progress, the Commission shall present to the Ad hoc working group established by Article 7A of the Agreement:
— an initial report on the status of the implementation by 30 January 2026;
— an assessment on the progress of the alignment by 31 May 2026;
— a further assessment on the progress of the alignment by 30 November 2026.
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http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1997/oj
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