European Union
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EU ROLE IN TRANSPORT
EU ROLE IN TRANSPORT
Efficient, integrated, sustainable transport
Competition and smart regulation
To make Europe's transport systems more efficient, the EU has been opening up national markets to competition – particularly road and air transport, but also rail to some extent.
Road – trucks can now operate in countries other than their own, and no longer return empty on international journeys.
Infrastructure
Liberalisation alone cannot solve deep-seated problems such as emissions, poor links to outlying regions and badly connected national networks.
The EU is revising its TEN-T policy with the aim of creating a multimodal "core network" linking major cities and bringing together the western and eastern parts of the EU. Infrastructure policy should also support other objectives, such as social cohesion and limiting climate change.
In addition to the importance of public funding for transport, a new approach to transport charges is needed to create a fair financial environment: transport charges must be restructured in the direction of a wider application of the "polluter pays" and "user pays" principle.
Transport
More competitive, resource-efficient transport
Transport is fundamental to our societies and our economy– vital for growth and job creation. The transport industry directly employs around 10 million people and accounts for about 5% of GDP. Effective transport systems are key to European companies' ability to compete in the world economy. Logistics such as transport and storage account for 10–15% of the cost of a finished product for European companies. The quality of transport services has a major impact on people's quality of life. The average household spends 13.2% of its budget on transport goods and services.
Major challenges
As our societies become ever more mobile, EU policy should help our transport systems meet the major challenges they are facing:
New high-speed lines across the EU offer European citizens a safe, fast, comfortable and ecological mode of transport.
- congestion affects both road and air traffic. It costs Europe around 1% of its annual GDP. But freight transport is increasing: by 2030, it is forecast to be 40% more than in 2005; 80% higher by 2050. Passenger traffic is set to grow too: 34% up on 2005 by 2030 and 51% up by 2050.
- oil dependency – transport has become more energy-efficient but still depends on oil for 96% of its energy needs. Oil will become scarcer in future decades, sourced increasingly from unstable parts of the world. By 2050, the price of oil is projected to be more than double the 2005 level of $59 a barrel.
- greenhouse emissions – by 2050, the EU needs to achieve a 60% cut in emissions for the transport sector compared with 1990 levels if we are to limit global warming to an increase of just 2ºC. Overall, by 2050, the EU needs to reduce emissions by 80–95% below 1990 levels in order to reach this goal.
- infrastructure – unequally developed across the EU. Eastern EU countries tend to lack purpose-built high-speed rail lines and conventional railway lines are often in poor condition.
- competition – the EU’s transport sector faces growing competition in fast developing transport markets in other world regions.
For a comprehensive view of key statistics on transport see: Transport 2050: 50 facts and figures
Efficient, integrated, sustainable transport
Competition and smart regulation
To make Europe's transport systems more efficient, the EU has been opening up national markets to competition – particularly road and air transport, but also rail to some extent.
Road – trucks can now operate in countries other than their own, and no longer return empty on international journeys.
Rail – in 2003, a first liberalisation package opened about 70-80% of long-distance rail freight traffic to competition. Now the Commission is proposing that passenger rail transport networks should also be open to competition. All administrative and regulatory obstacles should be removed too – in relation to rail and other transport modes.
Air – liberalisation has brought more competition, lower fares and more connections between EU countries. The EU's Single European Sky will help that trend continue. Transatlantic traffic is freer too: the EU's "open skies" agreement with the US allows any EU airline to fly from any EU airport to any city in the US.
Passenger rights
Travellers in the EU have passenger rights that protect their interests, especially when something goes wrong.
Safety
The EU:
- works with regional and national authorities on road safety, aiming to halve the number of road deaths over the next 10 years
- has banned unsafe airlines from Europe
- is tightening rules on maritime safety, including tougher ship inspections, penalties for pollution caused through gross negligence, and faster phasing-out of single-hulled tankers
- sets safety and security standards and only funds new infrastructure projects that meet those standards
- promotes safety and security standards in the rest of the world through cooperation and agreements, for example with theInternational Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization
Green transport
London was the first capital to charge motorists entering its central district.
The transport sector, principally road vehicles, account for 28% of the EU's CO2, emissions. The Commission is working on new legislation to lower limits for carbon emissions from cars and promote better fuel efficiency and the use of alternative fuels.
The Commission also supports research and effective deployment of new green transport technologies. Its Strategic Transport Technology Plan (STTP) will involve a major regrouping and refocusing of transport R&D efforts in Europe.
As part of the overall STTP, the Commission will publish a clean transport systems strategy in 2012, with specific measures to promote clean vehicles and develop EU-wide standards relating, for instance, to interoperability of charging/refuelling infrastructure.
Infrastructure
Liberalisation alone cannot solve deep-seated problems such as emissions, poor links to outlying regions and badly connected national networks.
The EU is revising its TEN-T policy with the aim of creating a multimodal "core network" linking major cities and bringing together the western and eastern parts of the EU. Infrastructure policy should also support other objectives, such as social cohesion and limiting climate change.
In addition to the importance of public funding for transport, a new approach to transport charges is needed to create a fair financial environment: transport charges must be restructured in the direction of a wider application of the "polluter pays" and "user pays" principle.
EU policies on Transport on all member states
07 Transport policy
07.20.40 Structural harmonisation
- 07.20.40.10 Technical and safety conditions (number of acts: 137)
- 07.20.40.20 Social conditions (number of acts: 65)
- 07.20.40.30 Taxation (number of acts: 4)
- 31962D0403(01)
EEC: Council Decision instituting a procedure or prior examination and consultation in respect of certain laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning transport proposed in Member States
(OJ 23, 3.4.1962, p. 720–721) - 31971Y0119(01)
Council Resolution of 7 December 1970 on co-operation between railway undertakings
(OJ C 5, 19.1.1971, p. 1–2) - 31973A0253
73/253/EEC: Commission Opinion of 20 February 1973 addressed to the Government of the French Republic on a draft decree amending Decree No 49-1473 of 14 November 1949 on the coordination and harmonization of rail and road transport
(OJ L 235, 23.8.1973, p. 17–18) - 31974H0255
74/255/EEC: Commission Recommendation of 10 April 1974 to the Government of the United Kingdom concerning the Regulations applicable in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland providing measures for the implementation of Community Regulations concerning the carriage of passengers by road between Member States and for bringing national legislation into line with these Regulations (Only the English text is authentic)
(OJ L 141, 24.5.1974, p. 1–2) - 31982H0922
82/922/EEC: Commission Recommendation of 17 December 1982 to national railway undertakings on the definition of a high-quality international passenger transport system
(OJ L 381, 31.12.1982, p. 38–39) - 31991L0440
Council Directive 91/440/EEC of 29 July 1991 on the development of the Community's railways
(OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, p. 25–28)Consolidated text 01991L0440-19910913 htmlpdf
Amended by 32001L0012
Consolidated text 01991L0440-20010315 htmlpdf
Amended by 12003T
Consolidated text 01991L0440-20040501 htmlpdf
Amended by 32004L0051
Amended by 32006L0103
Consolidated text 01991L0440-20070101 htmlpdf
Amended by 32007L0058
Consolidated text 01991L0440-20071204 htmlpdf - 31991Y0208(01)
Council Resolution of 17 December 1990 on the development of a European high-speed rail network
(OJ C 33, 8.2.1991, p. 1–3) - 31992L0006
Council Directive 92/6/EEC of 10 February 1992 on the installation and use of speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor vehicles in the Community
(OJ L 57, 2.3.1992, p. 27–28)Consolidated text 01992L0006-19920221 htmlpdf
Amended by 32002L0085
Consolidated text 01992L0006-20021204 htmlpdf
Derogation in 12003T - 31995Y0705(01)
Council Resolution of 19 June 1995 on the development of rail transport and combined transport
(OJ C 169, 5.7.1995, p. 1–2) - 31995Y1011(01)
Council Resolution of 28 September 1995 on the deployment of telematics in the road transport sector
(OJ C 264, 11.10.1995, p. 1–3) - 31998R2411
Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 on the recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered
(OJ L 299, 10.11.1998, p. 1–3) - 32001L0014
Directive 2001/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2001 on the allocation of railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure and safety certification
(OJ L 75, 15.3.2001, p. 29–46)Amended by 32002D0844
Consolidated text 02001L0014-20021214 htmlpdf
Amended by 32004L0049
Consolidated text 02001L0014-20040430 htmlpdf
Amended by 32007L0058
Consolidated text 02001L0014-20071204 htmlpdf - 32004L0049
DIRECTIVE 2004/49/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 April 2004 on safety on the Community's railways and amending Council Directive 95/18/EC on the licensing of railway undertakings and Directive 2001/14/EC on the allocation of railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure and safety certification (Railway Safety Directive)
(OJ L 164, 30.4.2004, p. 44–113)Amended by 32008L0057
Amended by 32008L0110
Consolidated text 02004L0049-20081224 htmlpdf
Amended by 32009L0149 - 32004R0881
REGULATION (EC) No 881/2004 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 April 2004 establishing a European Railway Agency (Agency Regulation)
(OJ L 164, 30.4.2004, p. 1–43) - 32009D0357
Decision No 357/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 April 2009 on a procedure for prior examination and consultation in respect of certain laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning transport proposed in Member States (Codified version)
(OJ L 109, 30.4.2009, p. 37–39) - 32010R1158
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1158/2010 of 9 December 2010 on a common safety method for assessing conformity with the requirements for obtaining railway safety certificates Text with EEA relevance
(OJ L 326, 10.12.2010, p. 11–24) - 32010R1169
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1169/2010 of 10 December 2010 on a common safety method for assessing conformity with the requirements for obtaining a railway safety authorisation Text with EEA relevance
(OJ L 327, 11.12.2010, p. 13–25) - 32010R1213
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1213/2010 of 16 December 2010 establishing common rules concerning the interconnection of national electronic registers on road transport undertakings Text with EEA relevance
(OJ L 335, 18.12.2010, p. 21–29) - 32011D0314
2011/314/EU: Commission Decision of 12 May 2011 concerning the technical specification for interoperability relating to the ‘operation and traffic management’ subsystem of the trans-European conventional rail system (notified under document C(2011) 3099) Text with EEA relevance
(OJ L 144, 31.5.2011, p. 1–112)Amended by 32012D0464
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