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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.

On 7 September 2016, CLECAT is co-organising a High Level Customs Conference with EuroCommerce AMCHAM, EurTradeNet, the European Express Association, the Foreign Trade Association, IATA and the World Shipping Council. This Conference is entitled 'EU Customs - Making A Difference In Modern Trade?' and will take place in Brussels at the World Customs Organisation premises.

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.”

The report of Kaja Kallas (ALDE/Estonia) on the Commission proposal for a directive on customs infringement and sanctions has been adopted on the 14th of July by the IMCO Committee, with 24 votes in favour, 4 against and 3 abstentions. In comparison with the initial proposal from the Commission, CLECAT is of the opinion that the text adopted by the IMCO Committee is an improvement.

On 7 June 2016, Steve Parker, President of CLECAT, expressed the views of the European freight forwarders on the UCC during the XXXIII ALACAT (Federation of National Associations of Freight Forwarders and International Logistics Operators in Latin America and the Caribbean) Congress held in Barcelona.

The European Commission has adopted a decision that renders legally binding the commitments offered by fourteen container liner shipping companies. The commitments aim to increase price transparency for customers and to reduce the likelihood of coordinating prices. CLECAT supported the move and called on the Commission to maintain scrutiny over pricing practices.

A universal method to calculate the carbon footprint of the logistics supply chain was released yesterday by the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) in Washington. GLEC, of which CLECAT is a member, is a group of companies, industry associations and programs, and backed by leading experts and other stakeholders.

CLECAT attended on Monday and Tuesday this week, the TEN-T days in Rotterdam. Ministers from 22 European Union Member States and over 2,800 transport experts and CEOs joined the 2016 edition of the high-level transport conference.