White Paper on Transport

In 2001, the EU's transport policy was facing a number of challenges: 

• the continued rise in freight and passenger transport; 
• road congestion; 
• environmental pressures; 
• safety and quality of life problems. 

To address these problems, the main objectives of the Commission’s White Paper on transport were: 

• decoupling economic growth and transport growth; 
• shifting the balance between modes of transport by 2010, by curbing the demand for road transport via pricing mechanisms and revitalising alternative transport modes such as railways, maritime and inland waterway transport (inter-modality); 
• having taxation systems reflect the true costs of transport, including external costs such as environmental damage, congestion, or human accidents; 
• making transport systems more efficient and safer. 

In the last five years, the White paper has led to various policy initiatives: 

• Adoption of a Regulation reinforcing air passengers rights (e.g. with airline overbooking); 
• Improving road safety: the European road safety action programme was launched and two Communications on eSafety (see our LinksDossier on eSafety), laying down a set of measures for supporting the development of safer and more intelligent vehicles, were adopted, with the overall objective of improving road safety and halving the number of road deaths by 2010; 
• Preventing congestions by promoting intermodality, through the 'Marco Polo' programmes I and II, and with the adoption of new TEN-T Guidelines establishing a legal framework for the funding of motorways of the sea; 
• Revision of the ‘Eurovignette’ directive, creating a harmonised EU framework for charging heavy goods vehicles on European motorways, so as to reflect the 'external costs' of transport, including environmental damage, congestion, and accidents and to promote the 'modal shift' (See EURACTIV 15 December 2005). 
• Improving infrastructure in the context of trans-European networks and integration of the new Member States into the network (see Euractiv 11 May 2004); 
• Reinforcement of the position of railways, with the adoption of three packages of measures aimed at market liberalisation and harmonisation. 

The Commission presented a review of the White Paper on 22 June 2006 (see EURACTIV 23 June 2006), which states that the 2001 objectives are still relevant but that, over the last five years, the context defining Europe’s transport policy has changed: 

• Enlargement: whereas the EU-15 are suffering from congestion and pollution, accessibility remains the real problem for the EU-10. 
• Globalisation is accelerating, further challenging Europe’s competitiveness and economic growth. 
• Oil prices have increased dramatically. 
• The Kyoto Protocol came into force, generating emission reduction commitments for Europe. 
• Transport networks experienced particularly deadly terrorist attacks. 

In order to adapt to these changes, the Commission proposes a number of new tools to achieve its objective of sustainable transport: 

• Decoupling transport growth from its negative effects: In stark contrast with the 2001 White Paper, no reference to curbing transport demand is made in the revised paper, which instead stresses the need to disconnect mobility from its negative consequences. 
• The ‘modal shift’: Although the Commission maintains that this remains a priority, the focus has been shifted towards ‘co-modality’ - or the optimised use of all modes of transport – rather than ‘inter-modality’. Co-modality can be achieved by facilitating the passage from one transport mode to another via the harmonisation of standards and the integration of the various transport modes into efficient logistics chains. This will be the aim of a Commission logistics action plan to be adopted in 2007. 
• Energy Efficiency: In accordance with the EU’s energy agenda (see our LinksDossier on the Energy Green Paper), much more attention is paid to increasing energy efficiency in the transport sector. The Commission plans to present a strategic technology plan for energy use in transport in 2007 and will launch a programme on ‘green-powered vehicles’ in 2009 (see our LinksDossier on Green cars). 
• Intelligent Transport Systems: The use of new technologies in all transport modes will cut costs, boost energy efficiency and improve security by providing new services to citizens, such as real-time management of traffic flows and tracking possibilities. 
• Urban transport: Mobility in urban areas is an everyday problem for Europe’s citizens. In order to encourage local authorities to better tackle congestion, pollution and accidents, the Commission will launch a Green Paper on Urban Transport in 2007. 
• Smart charging: By 10 June 2008, the Commission will present a model for infrastructure charging based on the assessment of all external costs accompanied by an impact analysis of the internalisation of external costs for all modes of transport. 

The European Parliament is divided on the review. EPP-ED MEPs, Georg Jarzembowski and Ari Vatanen, believe the Commission has moved towards a more realistic and feasible policy by moving away from the concept of “modal shift” and towards that of “co-modality”. They welcome the acknowledgement of the importance of road and air transport. 

The Greens/EFA group, on the other hand, accuse the Commission of stepping back on its commitment to a sustainable transport policy by abandoning the “modal shift” from road to rail. MEPs Eva Lichtenberger and Michael Cramer say the proposal to promote all transport modes will be detrimental to sustainability, health and the environment. 

An own-initiative report by Hungarian MEP Etelka Barsi-Partaky (EPP-ED) supports the view that the modal shift must remain a priority but states that Europe's transport policy will in any case remain weak unless member states speed up implementation of EU laws and if no new alternative and innovative means of financing for infrastructure are proposed. 

The International Road Transport Union (IRU) welcomes the Commission’s move away from a policy of forced modal shift and its recognition of the important economic role of road transport. However, it laments the under-investment in new road infrastructure under the TENs programme. It criticizes the idea of “smart charging” for increasing costs for transport enterprises and consumers and urges more attention for Europe’s cleanest, safest and most common mode of transport – buses. 

The association of European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM) warns against moving away from the modal shift in favour of co-modality as this will hinder the move towards more environmentally friendly modes of transport such as rail. Instead, it urges the Commission to bring forward its smart charging agenda. It also supports the Commission’s intention to enforce EU legislation on rail liberalisation through infringement procedures as this will lead to strong benefits for customers. 

The European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) says that the revised European transport policy is unsustainable, fails to set clear objectives for reducing pollutant and noise emissions, and completely ignores the health and environment objectives set out just six days earlier in the EU ‘Sustainable Development Strategy’ (See Euractiv 19 June 2006). 

• 12 October 2006: Transport ministers held a first debate on the proposal.
• 8 May 2007: Parliament's transport committee adopted an own-initiative report, drafted by Hungarian MEP Etelka Barsi-Pataky (EPP-ED), criticising lack of funds and implementation of EU legislation in the transport sector (EURACTIV 9/05/07).
• 10 July 2007: Plenary vote on the transport committee's own-initative report.

European Union

• European Commission (press release):Keep Europe moving: a transport policy for sustainable mobility(22 June 2006) [FR] [FR] [DE]
• European Commission (memo):Memo: Keep Europe moving!(22 June 2006)
• European Commission:Impact Assessment of the Communication
• European CommissionPreparatory works on the mid-term review of the White Paper on the European transport policy (2005-2006) [FR]
• Council of the European Union:Transport Council Provisional Conclusions: Debate on Mid-term review of the Transport White Paper(12 October 2006)
• Parliament:New sources of finance needed for EU transport infrastructure(8 May 2007) [FR]
• Parliament:Draft Report on Keep Europe moving - Sustainable mobility for our continent(December 2006) [FR] [FR] [DE]
• Council of European Municipalities and Regions:CEMR's response to the review of the White paper on transport: "Mobility must be at the core of policies at all levels"(17 Jan. 2006) [FR]

Political Groups

• EPP-ED Group: Georg Jarzembowski MEP:EU Transport Policy: Strengthening all modes of transport.(22 June 2006)
• EPP-ED Group: Ari Vatanen MEP:EU Transport Policy White Paper: A balanced proposal - but a challenging follow-up.(22 June 2006) [FR]
• Greens/EFA groupTransport policy review: Commission panders to road transport lobby at expense of environment(22 June 2006) [DE]

Governments

• UK Department for Transport:The Future of Transport White Paper
• France Ministère de Transport:Démarche prospective transports 2050. Eléments de réflexion.
• Germany Bundesministeriums für Verkehr (transport ministry):Kurzfassung Bericht "Integrierte Verkehrspolitik" für die Mobilität der Zukunft

Business & Industry

• International Road Transport Union (IRU):White Paper recognises the role of Road Transport(22 June 2006)
• European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM):The road to sustainable mobility passes through rail(22 June 2006)
• Community of European Railways (CER):CER encourages fundamental EU policy measures on freight logistics(12 October 2006)
• Community of European Railways (CER):Position Paper on the Mid-term Review of the European Commission’s 2001 Transport White Paper(September 2006)
• Community of European Railways (CER):CER supports continuity in EU transport policy - Work on external costs to be speeded up(22 June 2006)
• European Rail Freight Operators:White Paper Review(13 Dec. 2005)
• Association of European Airlines (AEA):AEA fully supports EU Commission’s Transport Objectives(22 June 2006)
• ACI EUROPE - Airports Council International:EU on right track with more balanced and flexible approach to transport policy(22 June 2006)
• European Regions Airline Association (ERA):ERA Asks EC to Revise European Air Transport Policy(10 January 2006)
• Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles (ACEM):The Motorcycle Industry Launches New Infrastructure Guidelines at Intertraffic 2006(5 April 2006)
• UITP:Position paper: Public Transport, the Lisbon Strategy and Sustainable Development(July 2005)
• EuroCommerce:A more realistic approach to transport at long last!(22 June 2006)
• European Car-Transport Group of Interest (ECG):ECG urges the European Commission to take a prompt action in enforcing its Mid-term review of the 2001 Transport White Paper(10 July 2006)
• European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistic and Customs Services (CLECAT)Review of 2001 White Paper on Transport Policy(December 2005)
• ERTICO - ITS Europe:ERTICO’s position on European Commission Mid-Term Review of the 2001 Transport White Paper(December 2006)

NGOs and Think-Tanks

• European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E):T&E statement on publication of EU Common Transport Policy(22 June 2006)
• The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC):Review of Transport Safety Policy - mobility yes, but not without safety!(22 June 2006)
• The Green 10 (T&E, Friends of Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network):Open letter to President Barroso, concerning the midterm review of the 2001 Common Transport Policy white paper(23 May 2006)
• Centre for European Policy StudiesIntegrating Europe’s Transport System: Practical Proposals for the Mid-Term Review of the Transport White Paper(22 June 2006)
• European Policy Centre (EPC):12 Prescriptions for a European Sustainable Mobility Policy(Feb. 2005)
• UK Royal Academy of Engineering:Transport 2050: the route to sustainable wealth creation
• US Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):Vision 2050. An integrated national transportation system
• Irish Academy of EngineeringA vision of transport in Ireland in 2050
• IPPR:Tailpipe Trading - How to include road transport in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme(June 2006)