ACHIEVING A TRUE INTERNAL MARKET FOR TRANSPORT
On the occasion of the publication of the Commission's White Paper on the future of transport BUSINESSEUROPE would like to highlight its support to:
- Completion of the internal market for transport and the removal of regulatory, administrative and technical barriers in all modes of transport;
- The need for a modern infrastructure, in particular the speeding up of the implementation of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the focus of EU funding on cross-border sections;
- Initiatives to support innovation to achieve cleaner transport;
- the attention given to co-modality using all modes efficiently and recognising that the various modes are complementary to each other. Modal shift is at odds with the aim of creating a real internal market for transport.
The environmental challenges in the transport sector need to be tackled but care is needed in choosing the type of initiatives to reduce emissions. Focus on achieving the above four objectives should be the absolute priority and will help achieve a more sustainable transport system.
Transport is a vital component of the economy. The sector directly generates 10% of the EU's GDP and provides more than ten million jobs.
BUSINESSEUROPE Director General Philippe de Buck said: "Transport is the nerve centre of logistics, needing utmost attention. This is why it is essential for the Commission to pursue an overall approach that takes into account the elements to develop a transport policy that is modern, efficient and cost-effective".
