FTA Welcomes Multi-Modal Approach For EU
The EU Commission’s ‘The Future of European Transport Policy’ document has been received by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) as potentially good news for all modes of commercial transport in Europe.
Chris Yarsley, FTA’s EU Affairs Manager, said: “Freight’s interests are best served by a truly multi-modal approach. A holistic approach to transport will not only serve the logistics sector better, but will also mean that businesses get optimal performance from their supply chains. We are pleased that the Commission seems to agree.”
FTA has long been a supporter of an inter-operability of road, rail, sea and air approach to freight as a means to achieve the greatest possible efficiency and improve environmental performance. The EU Commission’s communication document also seems to support the ideal that freight should be able to choose the mode that best suits its needs.
The infrastructure planning needed to optimise freight flows will look to minimise external costs, such as congestion, pollution and noise. However, the crucial question of funding for future projects remains unresolved.
Yarsley concludes: “A combination of public funding and user-charging is the method of funding advocated by the European Commission. Of course, there is understandable public support for the ‘polluter pays’ principle but there is also a strong argument from the industry that transport already contributes via taxes, tolls and charges.”
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