New take on better and safer transport

Europe needs a fresh look at its transport policies. The EU should work harder to reduce road injuries, should help to double public transport in cities and also boost the rail and maritime sector.

Those are a few of the main points in a report on a White Paper on transport by Parliament's negotiator on the topic, EPP Group MEP Wim van de Camp. The report was adopted by a large majority in the European Parliament’s Committee for Transport and Tourism on Tuesday 14 July.

A stronger, Cleaner and More competitive European Transport Sector

"Not only do many roads and rail infrastructure need to be modernised in the EU, we also urgently need to modernise European transport policy,” said Wim van de Camp.

It was back in 2011 already that the European Commission presented its very ambitious White Paper on transport. The White Paper sets out a strategy to make the European transport sector stronger, cleaner and more competitive and improve access to and the quality of transport for all Europeans.

By shifting to new and safer systems, the EU could reach a target of a 40% reduction in the number of people seriously injured by 2020

Van de Camp in his report proposes to update the strategy. With new ideas about intelligent transportation systems, like long underground tunnels. By shifting to new and safer systems, the EU could reach a target of a 40% reduction in the number of people seriously injured by 2020.

The European transport sector provides 10 million jobs in Europe and accounts for 5% of European GDP. Transport is a crucial economic sector that can support growth.

"I refuse to see the sector as a burden, like many of my colleagues in the European Parliament tend to do," says Van de Camp. "Their vision is unrealistic and I am pretty sure that they would be struck by the dramatic effects if Europe were without transport for only one day."

The European transport sector provides 10 million jobs in Europe and accounts for 5% of European GDP. Transport is a crucial economic sector that can support growth.

MEPs are calling on the European Commission to propose mandatory limits on average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars beyond 2020

Modernisation should also lead to cleaner transport. MEPs are calling on the European Commission to propose mandatory limits on average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars beyond 2020. Similar proposals are requested for other transport modes, like shipping.

A general framework for national road charge systems

For passenger cars, some Member States are working on differing toll systems. Van de Camp wants a proposal for a general framework for national road charge schemes, which should be “non-discriminatory for third-country residents” and “prioritise distanced-based charging”.

As new services like Uber taxis are introduced, the MEPs want the European Commission to assess the consequences of these new services, taking into account existing taxi services.

The report is on the agenda for a plenary vote by the Parliament in September.