Europe’s transport policy has been characterised by liberalisation and
harmonisation over the years. This has slowly shaped the transport system into what
it is today. Globalisation and the concept of wider Europe create further challenges.
The fast growth of freight transport – driven to a large extent by economic decisions
– contributes to growth and employment but also causes congestion, accidents, noise,
pollution, increased reliance on imported fossil fuels, and energy loss. Infrastructure
resources are limited and any disruption in the supply chain (i.e. energy) has
necessarily a negative impact on the EU economy. Without adequate measures, the
situation will continue worsening and increasingly undermine Europe’s
competitiveness and the environment that we all live in.