In 2001, the European Commission launched the White Paper on Transport establishing the agenda of the European transport policy by 2010. This programme has been updated on the occasion of the intermediate evaluation in 2006. Currently, the Commission is preparing the ground for the future evolution of this policy valid in the next decade. A new White Paper (Future of Transport) is expected this autumn.
Transport policies for the next ten years must be based on a reflection on the future of the transport system that embraces also the following decades. The Commission has launched such a reflection, comprising an evaluation study on the European Transport Policy (ETP), a debate within three focus groups, a study called “Transvisions” identifying possible low-carbon scenarios for transport and a consultation of stakeholders, notably through a high level stakeholders’ conference on 9-10 March 2009.
New challenges come up
The social dimension and the environment continue to be two challenges that the future policy of transport should consider in elaborating new action directions. Although it may be temporarily halted by economic crises and geopolitical instability, the strong economic growth of many developing countries implies further globalisation. Transport outside Europe will increase much more than inside Europe and EU external trade and transport are likely to keep growing rapidly in the coming years. In the future, transport should be integrated, based on sustainable technologies and it will definitely have to be more customer-oriented.
The world population is expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050. This increase, by roughly a third from 6.8 billion people in 2009, will have a tremendous impact on global resources, making the goal of setting up a more sustainable transport system – one which uses fewer resources – all the more important.
In the coming decades, oil and other fossil fuels are expected to become more expensive as demand increases and low-cost sources dry up. The negative impact on the environment will be greater, as conventional sources are replaced by more polluting supplies. At the same time, the need to move to a low-carbon economy and the growing concerns about energy security will bring about a greater supply of renewable energy, made much cheaper by technological progress and mass production.
Technological innovation gains ground
Intelligent innovative systems seem to be the new trend in the future of transport. Technological innovation will be a major contributor to the solution of the transport challenges. New technologies will provide new and more comfortable services to passengers, increase safety and security and reduce the environmental impacts. “Soft infrastructures”, like intelligent transport systems for road (ITS1) and traffic management systems for rail (ERTMS2) and aviation (Single European Sky’s SESAR3), backed by Galileo, can optimise the use of the network and improve safety; innovative vehicle technology can lower emissions, reduce oil dependency and increase comfort. The next decade will most probably be a transit decade for the transport system. There will be new practices and new technologies. There will be long-term investments, for example, in infrastructure.
“In regards to the TEN-T network, there is a great gap between needs, plans and reality. The implementation of the 30 TEN-T projects is a lot more modest. There is also a great gap between Western and Eastern Europe in what concerns investments. In East, they are close to nothing and the few projects announced are hardly moving forward. In fact, none of the objectives established in the White Paper can be carried out”, believes Johannes Ludewig, Executive Director of CER.
Logistics operations based on the synergies between sea, railway and/or inland waterways transport can also be a great development potential.
“The railway freight transport has an enormous potential in case railways are able to create comprehensive transport solutions, tailored to the customers’ needs and integrated to logistics chains”, Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Director General UIC, declared in a interview for railfreightportal.com.
by Elena Ilie
Share on:
