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Following the publication in July 2016 of the European Commission’s Strategy on Low-Emission Mobility, the European Parliament is drafting an own-initiative report setting out MEPs’ views on the strategy. Ahead of the work in the Parliament’s TRAN and ENVI committees, CLECAT has prepared a briefing for MEPs on issues of importance to logistics, freight forwarding and customs services, which should be taken into account in the Parliament’s report. CLECAT is largely supportive of the Commission’s strategy of CO2 emissions from transport (land, sea and air transport). The Commission takes a realistic approach and CLECAT agrees with the analysis and the challenge: transport and logistics need to continue to provide good mobility and connectivity but with less emissions. CLECAT welcomes the fact that the Commission continues to work on a broad and wide range of relevant issues for reducing emissions.

After the succesful conclusion of our annual Freight Forwarders' Forum, the CLECAT Secretariat has now uploaded the presentations that were given during the event.

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.