Press releases

30 European transport associations, representing infrastructure managers, operators, local authorities, users and equipment suppliers in the maritime, inland waterways, railways, road, cycling, aviation and intermodal sectors, call on the European Parliament and the Council to approve the initial Commission proposal for the review of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework. Nonetheless, the transport sector warns that this cannot be considered sufficient to complete the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T). The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is the financial lifeline of the TEN-T network. From a CEF total budget of 31 billion euros (2.8% of the overall MFF), only EUR 2 billion are left to co-fund transport projects of high European added-value until 2020.

CLECAT, the European association for forwarding, transport, logistics and customs services, welcomes the European Commission’s new strategy on the decarbonisation of transport, published on 20 July. Nicolette van der Jagt, CLECAT’s Director General, said: “CLECAT is glad to see the Commission pursuing a holistic approach to decarbonisation of the transport chain, taking into account low-carbon energy use, increased efficiency and innovative, intelligent management of the transport system. “Such a holistic approach should achieve a balance, offering the industry relevant alternatives without imposing a conflicting choice between costs and environmental benefits. It is vital that EU policy-makers and industry find the optimal and most efficient solutions for decarbonising transport, especially in terms of cost/benefit, so as to reduce transport’s climate footprint without harming the freight transport industry.”

On 21 June, the rail sector and its customers, represented by CLECAT, CER, EIM, ERFA, ERTMS Users Group, ESC, UIP, UIRR, and UNIFE, and supported by the Rail Freight Corridors, presented a declaration at the TEN-T Days in Rotterdam, committing themselves to the aim of enhancing the competitiveness of the Rail Freight Corridors for the benefit of all customers, and to improving the quality, reliability and efficiency of transporting goods by rail across Europe.

CLECAT, along with the ESC, FEPORT and ESPO, has called on EU Member States to pursue coordinated action for implementing the SOLAS container weighing amendment, particularly with regard to tolerance levels and the certification of shippers approved to issue verified weight certificates.

During a debate which took place at the SITL Europe 2016, where TLF, CLECAT, AUTF and ESC jointly organised the 2nd Global Supply Chain Forum, CLECAT has called on airlines to make a general move into upgrading their messaging systems to the Cargo-XML standard.

The TRAN Committee adopted, on 25 January, the report by Knut Fleckenstein MEP on the proposed Ports Services Regulation. CLECAT welcomes the simplification of the proposal by the compromise amendments adopted but regrets that the report maintains an exemption for cargo handling. CLECAT also urges MEPs to quickly grant a mandate to negotiate with the Council.

CLECAT welcomes the European Commission’s Aviation Package, published on 7 December 2015. The package, which seeks to address the competitiveness of European aviation, is a timely initiative as the European air transport market seeks to adjust to competition from the Middle East and Asia. CLECAT's position paper on the strategy is available here.

Organised at the Port of Antwerp, CLECAT, the European Association for forwarding, transport, logistics and customs services, held its 15th annual event on 19 November. Under the theme ‘Driving the Maritime Supply Chain Forward’, a range of questions were debated, covering strategic and operational challenges for the evolving maritime supply chain.

On 26 October, CLECAT, ERFA, EPTTOLA, EPF, ESC, and T&E issued a joint Open Letter urging for a growth and customer-orientated management of the rail infrastructure, a full financial transparency and sustainability of the rail system, and more cooperation and coordination in the rail sector.