Summary
Six organisations – including Cefic, Business Europe, CLECAT (European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services), European Chemical Transport Association (ECTA), European Shippers’ Council (ESC), and the Industry Association of Combined Transport in Europe (UIRR)- have released a Joint Industry Position Paper on the Combined Transport Directive.
For logistics and transport operators, as well as for European industry, access to reliable, competitive, and predictable freight services by railway, inland waterways and short sea shipping largely depends on a well-functioning Combined Transport system.
Combined Transport is a key contributor to achieving the ambitions of the European Green Deal, including the reduction of transport greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050. It also plays a crucial role in improving energy efficiency, reducing road congestion, and tackling driver shortages. However, today’s framework is built on outdated definitions and fragmented national approaches, creating legal uncertainty for cross-border operations, administrative complexity, and an uneven playing field, ultimately holding back wider uptake of multimodal transport solutions.
Key recommendations
- Restart legislative work on the revision of the Combined Transport framework
- Ensure clear, stable and verifiable eligibility criteria
- Harmonise rules across Member States to support cross-border supply chains
- Advance digitalisation to reduce administrative burden and support enforcement
- Ensure swift implementation and regular assessment of national measures
For more information about this joint position, please contact : Joost Naessens – HSSE, Responsable Care and Supply Chain – Director Transport & Logistics