Transport is a key factor in modern economies. In 2001, the Commission issued a White Paper setting an agenda for the European transport policy throughout 2010. As this ten-year period is now coming to an end, it is time to review the EU transport policy and to define the future of transport for the next decades.
A major debate on transport has been taking place in Europe since the European Commission published a communication on “A sustainable future for transport” last June. Is technological development sufficient to make transport more sustainable? What can the EU do to ensure fair legislation and adequate funding? What should be changed in the current legislative framework? Several transport stakeholders have been trying to answer these questions by providing their view of the future of transport.
The Commission’s communication was an important step in the way to defining a sustainable transport for the EU. The final outcome will be the publication of the next Transport White Paper early 2010.
“I am convinced that positioning railways as the preferred mode of choice of our society and enabling modal shift is the main approach to reduce CO2 emissions from the transport sector. Therefore a paradigm shift towards low carbon transport is required with solutions scaled to the size of the challenge”, said Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Director General UIC, in reference to the White Paper. However, ensuring a sustainable future for transport is not an easy task.
“There are some major challenges to deal with, such as the current financial crises and reducing the effects of climate change. At a time when public expenditure is a sensitive issue, an ageing European population is demanding that public funds be spent on pensions and health care rather than on other public services, such as transport. On the other hand, fossil fuel scarcity and the unquestionable need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will remain a major concern for the sustainability of transport”, said Michael Robson, Secretary General EIM.
The revitalization of the railways requires urgent investments
EC’s communication from June 2009 was a major step towards defining a sustainable transport system in the European Union, with regard to a proper charging system for road transport through the Eurovignette Directive which implements the “Polluter Pays” principle, as well as related to the revitalization of the railways and the stabilization of transport by establishing a modal transfer between the various modes of transport. The final result of these debates will be revealed after the publication of the new White Paper on Transport 2010.
In November 2009, during the second high-level conference of the organisations involved in the transport sector, a conference which focused on the EC’s communication on “A sustainable future for transport”, Patrick Verhoeven, Secretary General ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation), highlighted three priorities for the next White Paper:
“(1) give ports a proper place within TENs. They are there on paper not in reality. Identify
core network supported by comprehensive analysis.
(2) try to harmonise the objectives of sustainability and transport efficiency. Identify
needs and act on them without wasting time on bureaucratic environmental
assessments. Once a policy decision is taken it has to be carried out.
(3) foster co-modality by paying attention to all sectors.”
Verhoeven also argued for the revitalization of the links between ports and other surface modes of transport, as well as for establishing the ports which will be an integrating part of the TEN-T network.
“TEN-T shows a high discrepancy between needs, plans and reality. The implementation of the 30 TEN-T projects is very modest. From a macroeconomic point of view, the investments and public expenses concerning the transport infrastructure dropped from 1.7% of the GDP in the 1980s to 0.7% of the GDP at present; during all this time, traffic congestion increased. And the transformation of the transport system in such a way that can meet current needs requires massive investments. However, the funds allocated from the state budget are not sufficient. There is also a high discrepancy between Western and Eastern Europe in terms of investments. In Eastern Europe, investments are almost null, and the few projects developed are not moving forward. Practically, none of the objectives established in the White Paper can be achieved”, said Johannes Ludewig, Executive Director CER.
by Elena Ilie
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