Brussels, 02/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a letter addressed to the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, on 20 November, nine organisations of the transport sector called for transport policy to be dealt with in an appropriate manner, not just to be considered from the environmental point of view. The organisations say the environmental issue, albeit crucial, and that of lowering the carbon footprint of the transport sector as evoked in the policy guidelines for the new Commission should not stand in the way of other policy objectives of the transport sector or prevent facing up to future challenges. They acknowledge that tackling environmental challenges has become a top priority, especially at the present time, and must be the key element for future European transport and climate policy. They go on to warn, however, that transport also has to face up to other challenges, such as those identified by the Commission June 2009 communication on the future of the sector: - population ageing, the increasing size of the population in towns, the impact of the cost of transport and relocation, the adoption of new technologies, infrastructure, co-modality, and transport safety and security. “These are challenges that deserve full consideration in parallel to that given to the environmental impact of transport, which must be suitably tackled”, they say. The organisations go on to point out that the transport sector accounts for 7% of European GDP and for over 5% of the total EU employment rate. This figure can be doubled if one adds all industries, services, maintenance and technology relating to transport. The letter was signed by the Association of European Airlines (AEA), the Community of European Railways (CER), the European Sea Port Organisation (ESPO), the European Federation of Inland Ports, the European Shippers Organisation (ESO), the European Barge Union (EBU) and Inland Navigation Europe (INE). (A.By/transl.jl)