Lorry drivers have agreed to suspend plans for a national week of action from June 23 to 28 following yesterday’s decision by the cabinet to hold talks with the transport sector on the problem of increasing fuel prices.

However finance minister Wouter Bos made it clear during an emergency debate in parliament on Thursday that the increase on diesel tax, by three cents a litre, will go ahead in July as planned.
Sandy ten Hoopen of the association of independent lorry drivers (VERN) told ANP news service that he expects next week’s meeting with the government to result in concrete proposals to help his members.
‘We are not going there just to drink tea, the cabinet will come up with measures to solve the problem,’ he is quoted as saying.
VERN estimates that the three cent increase on diesel tax will cost its members €150m.
On Thursday lorry drivers disrupted traffic by staging a ‘go slow’ and driving at 50 kph on the country’s motorways.
VERN says it has not ruled further actions if next week’s talks with the government prove unsatisfactory.