Brussels, 30/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - In the European Commission's White Paper, which the Commission intends to present at the end of the year, harmonisation, integration and competition based on reliable socio-economic impact studies will be the watchword for transport policy for the next decade. According to the initial draft text, currently in an inter-services consultation stage, the Commission is planning to complete passenger railway market liberalisation and fully separate infrastructure managers from rail operators. The Commission also intends to harmonise rules governing the maximum height and length of trains, and introduce internalisation of the main external railway transport costs (noise, locally-based pollution and congestion). Most of the effort in the road transport arena focuses on the facilitation of mobility and the eradication of restrictions imposed on road cabotage (currently limited to three consecutive operations a week) and access to coach markets. A European area controlling road haulage transport is also planned, which would be combined with measures already in force (the register of transport companies) and harmonised sanctions. It is not ruled out that after 10 years, in addition to an impact study on the labour markets, the Commission will make standards limiting maximum lorry sizes more flexible. In the area of maritime transport, action focuses on the speeding up of implementation of the borderless maritime area. On the other hand, navigable river transport could include measures for ensuring mutual recognition of watermen and internalisation of certain external costs. No new funding instrument has at this stage been planned. Financial support could, nonetheless, be granted to regional and local projects that aim to internalise road transport costs. (A.By./transl.fl)