(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 4 - After night-long negotiations and two years of discussions, an agreement has been achieved between EU transport ministers on the new regulations on road transport, with the aim of improving working conditions for truck drivers and eradicate 'dumping' among the EU-28. The agreement has however created a rift with the eastern countries which have been accused of dumping and have in turn accused the other countries of protectionism. Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Malta and Ireland voted against the new regulations, and Belgium and Romania have also expressed their opposition. The latter country abstained in view of fact that it will take the EU presidency in January. The text, after the reassurances on some legal aspects, was also considered acceptable by Italy's transport minister Danilo Toninelli, who has therefore given green light. ''The agreement establishes fairer regulations for drivers and transport companies, and greater effectiveness for national control authorities'' said minister Norbert Hofer, member of the Austrian EU Presidency.(ANSA).