The aim of this chapter is to provide insight into the current and future trends of the European logistics sector, with a view of supporting the identification of relevant policy options.
The structure of this chapter is as follows:
Firstly, the external factors (please see the definition box below) are described, which impact the logistic sector but remain beyond the area of influence of the transport and logistic industry (cf. chapter 3.2).
The logistic sector partially adapts to these changing external factors with logistic (business) strategies (see the definition box below). These strategies, when broadly and consistently implemented, result in identifiable industry trends in the logistics sector (see the definition box below). These industry trends are identified and described (cf. chapter 3.3) on the basis of analytical work conducted in the earlier part of the study.
One main objective is to assess the major factors shaping the industry. These factors were assessed in terms of their effects on the freight transport and logistics sector, as well as their economic, social and environmental impacts in the context of an abridged impact assessment (cf. Chapter 4 ). The assessment was conducted with the support of criteria that aim to characterise specific trends in terms of their positive or negative impacts and whether or not the associated problems will be addressed by the industry (45). The outcome of this assessment indicates future problems regarding the overall European transport policy objectives (as outlined in the White Paper or other relevant EU documents), which the industry is unable or unwilling to address and which could be considered by the EU transport policy. These topics will be discussed within the subsequent chapter.