All news & events

Nieuwsblad Transport reported this week that Lineas, the Belgian rail freight operator and former NMBS cargo arm, continues to face serious financial challenges despite repeated state-backed rescue operations.

Carriers’ latest attempts to push through General Rate Increases (GRIs) and Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) on the Asia–Europe trade lane appear to be losing momentum, with little sign of lasting impact. Market analysts suggest that only significant reductions in capacity are likely to prevent further rate erosion in September.

From 1 September 2025, new EU customs rules took effect for goods entering the EU by road and rail. Carriers moving goods through certain Member States will now have to submit Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) through the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) before the goods arrive. This applies regardless of where the company is registered.

This week, the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee held an exchange of views on MEP Johan Danielsson’s draft resolution, which calls for new EU-wide measures to regulate subcontracting chains and labour intermediaries including a cap of two levels below the main contractor and joint liability across the chain. Against this backdrop, CLECAT has submitted detailed comments to MEPs, warning that rigid regulations could disrupt legitimate logistics operations and harm SMEs.

Reflecting on the joint meeting of the European Parliament’s Transport (TRAN) and Security and Defence (SEDE) Committees, which took place on 1 September, CLECAT welcomes the direction and ambition of the draft report prepared by MEP Auštrevičius and MEP Zīle on Military Mobility.

On 4 September, CLECAT released its position paper on the forthcoming Commission’s Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP). Expected by the end of the year, the STIP aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of freight transport by outlining actions to boost public and private investments into renewable and low-carbon fuels, making better use of existing financial instruments while identifying needs for additional measures.

On 30 June, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its latest data on global air cargo markets, reporting a growth in demand despite trade disruptions.