News

EP QUESTIONS EXTREMELY HIGH CONTAINER PRICES

MEPs Tom Berendsen and Annie Schreijer-Pierik (EPP, the Netherlands) issued a new set of questions to the Commission on the extremely high container prices and the impact on consumer prices. The MEPs note that the sharply rising container prices have had a knock-on effect on consumer prices, referring to recent Eurostat figures in the Eurozone.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON COMBINED TRANSPORT REVISION

On 7 March, the European Commission opened the public consultation on the revision of the Combined Transport Directive, which will remain open until 5 May. The public consultation will contribute to the Commission’s work on the impact assessment for the revision of Combined Transport Directive, which aims at gathering stakeholders’ views on the barriers to the intermodal/multimodal transport and how its uptake could be improved.

CLECAT PRESENTS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT

On 9 March, CLECAT spoke at the REIF Project (INTERREG Central Europe action for the increase of the modal share of rail freight transport) Transfer Conference, which aimed at setting the wider international scenario on the situation of Combined Transport in Europe, with specific focus on rail.

NEW STATE AID SCHEMES IN ITALY AND CZECH REPUBLIC FOR INTERMODAL TRANSPORT

On 3 March, the European Commission approved, under EU State aid rules, aid schemes for Italy and the Czech Republic, in support of intermodal freight. In Italy, the focus lies in incentivising companies to use more rail, whilst in the Czech Republic, the aid focuses on constructing and upgrading combined transport terminals.

EUROPE’S RAIL PUBLISHES CALL FOR PROPOSALS

On 10 March, Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking published its Call for Proposals 2022-1, under which projects worth €390 million, against €234 million funding, are expected to be funded. The application period is now open and submissions will be accepted until 23 June 2022.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON AIR SERVICES REGULATION

On 7 March, the European Commission opened a public consultation on the Revision of the Air Services Regulation, which will remain open until 26 May. The Air Services Regulation sets common rules for air services in the EU, including on operating licence requirements, the freedom to provide services and when it can exceptionally be restricted, as well as how prices should be displayed to consumers.

AIR CARGO GROWTH CONTINUES IN JANUARY BUT AT A SLOWER PACE

On 9 March, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air cargo markets showing slower growth in January 2022. Supply chain disruptions and capacity constraints, as well as a deterioration in economic conditions for the sector dampened demand.

FRENCH PRESIDENCY PRESENTS CBAM COMPROMISE TEXT

On 4 March, the French Presidency of the Council presented a compromise text on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, accompanied by a Presidency report on the state of play of the Council negotiations on the file.

TRAN MEPS DEBATE DRAFT REPORT ON REFUELEU AVIATION

On 3 March, the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) discussed the draft report on ReFuelEU Aviation by Rapporteur Søren Gade (RE, Denmark). The Rapporteur has proposed to broaden the scope of the proposal period extending the period during which sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) will not have to be supplied in all airports until 2023 while enforcing the blending mandate.

JOINT LETTER CALLING TO TIGHTEN CO2 STANDARDS FOR VANS

On 10 March, a coalition of transport, cities and health organisations sent a letter to MEPs and Member States to strengthen the Commission’s proposed van CO2 limits for the 2020s. As currently drafted, the proposal does not require manufacturers to increase their sales of electric vans above a 10% share before the end of the decade.

ELECTRONIC FIATA MULTIMODAL BILL OF LADING DATA STANDARD AVAILABLE AS OPEN-SOURCE

On 10 March, FIATA and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) announced the official release of the electronic FIATA Multimodal Bill of Lading (eFBL) data standard. The data standard, created on the basis of the mapping of the Negotiable FIATA Multimodal Transport Bill of Lading (FBL) with the UN/CEFACT MMT reference data model, allows the exchange of BL data in a standardised way, facilitating interoperability between all modes of transport and industry stakeholders.

CLECAT Meetings

CLECAT Air Freight Institute
16 March 2022, Online

CLECAT Supply Chain Security Institute
16 March 2022, Online

CLECAT Road Logistics Institute
22 March 2022, Online

CLECAT Board
25 March 2022, Online

CLECAT General Assembly
16 June  2022, Location TBC

EU Meetings

European Parliament

European Parliament Transport Committee
14-15 March 2022, Brussels

European Parliament Environment Committee
14-15 March 2022, Brussels

European Parliament Plenary
23-24 March 2022, Brussels