News

Shippers largely welcome Commission’s ambitious Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area

Monday, 28 March 2011

The Commission has presented an ambitious plan to cut transport emissions to "at least 60%" of 1990 levels by 2050 whilst at the same time aiming to establish a system that underpins economic progress and enhancing the competitiveness of the European economy.

The European Shippers' Council welcomes this ambition but notes that the success of the plan will be strongly dependent on the success of key policies aimed at market opening, international cooperation and agreements safeguarding competition in international transport and trade, and greater innovation to improve the efficiency of all modes of freight transport.

ESC, an organisation representing the freight interests of some 100,000 companies in Europe, has been proactively campaigning for such policies for many years and months leading up to the publication of this White Paper.

Sustainable transport and competitiveness equate to the same thing: more efficient transport and lower emissions. The completion of the EU Internal Market is a key condition for efficient and sustainable transport in Europe. This means investments in new technology, removing the remaining restrictions on cabotage, and ensuring effective and non-discriminatory access to rail infrastructure through unbundling of operations from infrastructure management. Also, the proposed completion of the Single European Sky and the integration of IT systems for short sea shipping through introduction of the so-called "Blue Belt" initiative, are ways to increase efficiency in freight transport whilst reducing costs to the industry and the environment.

Despite the headlines for 30% modal shift from road by 2030 and over 50% by 2050, closer reading of the White Paper makes it clear that the Commission has recognised that freight shipments over short and medium distances will remain to a large extent on trucks; and for longer distances, the paper says 'Freight multimodality has to become economically attractive for shippers. Efficient co-modality is needed'.

Furthermore, and by consequence, truck efficiency should be encouraged. With this there is recognition on the need to take a fresh look at rules on vehicle weights and dimensions. ESC believes that in order to allow more efficient ways to operate, optimize payload of trucks and reduce the number of trucks and trips required when meeting the transport demand, the Commission should allow EMS vehicles to operate more widely in and throughout Europe.

Internalization of external costs remains on the Commission's target-list of policies. Whilst having a number of reservations in regard to this policy, ESC does welcome the notation that this should be implemented in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner – applying it to freight and passenger transport.

ESC has always maintained that putting a charge on one section of transport infrastructure users – i.e. those carrying freight (as reflected in the current Eurovignette proposal), and not on the private users of infrastructure, would not encourage a more efficient use of infrastructure.

ESC's Secretary General , Nicolette van der Jagt , commenting on the White Paper said, "European shippers will see much in this White Paper to encourage them that the Commission recognises the need to underpin transport policy making with maintaining and improving the competitiveness of the European economy. There are areas of some concern, notably the Commission's modal shift targets: but if we recognise these to be aspirations, achievable only if other alternatives become viable economically and practical, then we can support the aspiration. But there is a long way to go on this. We will never support any attempt to force a modal shift. "

Commenting further on the inclusion of transport security in the White Paper, Ms Van der Jagt said "This issue is only given a small mention but it has been clear for some time that the Commission would be raising once more the issue of transport security; we will need to watch out for any unnecessary, excessive and costly proposals, that might be raised. Nevertheless ESC will be more than happy to impart our extensive views and knowledge on this matter at the appropriate juncture.

Ms van der Jagt concluded, "It is important to remember that serious analysis of how to address the problem of transport growth must to a large extent focus also on other sectors such as housing, agriculture and industry rather than the transport sector itself, as it is economic developments and demands in these sectors that create transport demand."