Italian carrier transports Italian wine and parmesan to Sofia, Bucharest or Copenhagen; Round trip travel may take about 3 weeks. Less flexibility in working time would mean that drivers would have to rest outside their vehicle, although there is not enough secure parking places and rest areas now, and they will not be in the near future. So where to go and what to do with a truck to force a regular rest outside the vehicle?

The result of shortening the reference period would be more stress and poorer working conditions for drivers. A real 4-week reference period, covering 3 weeks of activity, is the only feasible and practical solution, providing a week or right rest before the end of the fourth week.”