Galileo Green Lanes application

The Galileo Green Lanes App is now open for use by all interested parties, companies, and drivers in the EU and neighbouring countries.
The application was created as part of the measures to facilitate border crossing and keep freight moving throughout the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To download the final version of the app, please see here.

 

Background

1. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION GREEN LANES COMMUNICATION

On 23 March 2020, the European Commission published a Communication concerning the implementation of the Green Lanes initiative, in accordance with the Guidelines for border-management measures in order to protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services. The goal of the communication was to keep freight moving throughout the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure that EU-wide supply chains continue to operate, EU Member States were requested to designate relevant internal border-crossing points on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) as “green lane” border crossings. According to the Green Lanes communication, crossing these border points should not take more than 15 minutes, including any checks and health screening. To ensure monitoring of the process, in particular at EU internal borders, the European Global Satellite Navigation Systems Agency (GSA) launched the creation of a Galileo-based Green Lanes smart phone application for drivers to install on their own mobile phones (Android). The app also contains a dedicated interface for the drivers. IRU and the start-up company, Sixfold, that had been maintaining a publicly available map of waiting times at EU internal borders, were invited to support the creation of the system. IRU was also invited to test the first test-version of the Galileo Green Lanes app with its members and their drivers.

2. TEST PHASE OF THE GALILEO GREEN LANES APPLICATION

During the test phase, some 2200 drivers from 22 countries downloaded the app, which allowed the driver app to be properly tested during real-time use. The information was automatically collected from the driver’s mobile phone but only when the driver approached the border crossing. That information was collected anonymously. Once the driver was close to the border (inside the virtual geo-fenced circle in a radius of 5 kilometres), the positioning information was transmitted every 1-5 seconds depending on the smartphone model. Participation was free of charge.

3. OUTCOME OF THE TEST PHASE

The system (free of charge) is now fully operational and can be used by any interested company, please see here.

The final version of the app is now ready for downloading and updating (the test version) for any interested company/driver in the EU and neighbouring countries. It was confirmed that there is no limitation as to the nationality of drivers willing to download and make use of the app. It was also confirmed that the external EU borders and relevant borders within the Western Balkans will also be monitored.

An iOS version of the app is also currently in preparation (for Apple smart phones) and it is expected to be ready and available within the coming weeks.

The geo-fenced area, within which the driver’s phone automatically communicates with the system, will be expanded to 5 kilometres around the border. All data is fully anonymised.

4. NEXT STEPS

It is expected that the system and the app will remain in use after the removal of the EU internal borders.

For more information, please contact Oleg Kamberski at the International Road Transport Union at oleg.kamberski@iru.org