Brussels, 28/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - “Competitive transport systems are vital for Europe's ability to compete in the world, for economic growth, job creation and for people's everyday quality of life. Curbing mobility is not an option; neither is business as usual. We can break the transport system's dependence on oil without sacrificing its efficiency and compromising mobility. It can be win-win”, EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas told reporters on Monday 28 March 2011 as he unveiled the European Commission's new White Paper on Transport. By 2050, the Commissioner is planning to get rid of fossil fuel-powered cars in cities, to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% for shipping and ensure that 40% of aviation fuel comes from an alternative source. It is also suggesting that half of journeys of more than 300 km will be by rail or inland navigation rather than road and is looking into externalising costs for all forms of transport (see EUROPE 10314).
The “Transport 2050 Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area” has two aims - to ensure the development of non-oil-fuelled transport and to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% by 2050 and 20% by 2030, compared with the 2008 level, while keeping in mind the growing demand for transport (it is estimated that, by 2050, demand will be over 80% up on 2005 levels). At the same time, the Commission wants to ensure mobility for people and freight and re-design the financial system to fund infrastructure projects.
Ten objectives will be followed in the medium-term (2030) and long-term (2050) to combine technology and market measures and make the most of each form of transport.
The Commission is suggesting: - developing non-oil fuel to be used in cities, where the Commission suggests phasing out the use of conventionally-fuelled cars by 2050; the logistical chain of major cities should be “decarbonised” by 2030; - making the most of multimodal transport, by using less energy-guzzling forms of transport. The flagship initiative for this, according to the Commission, is gradually moving away from road transport to rail and waterways. The Commission is suggesting an initial shift of 30% of road freight for journeys of over 300 kilometres to rail and waterways, increasing to 50% by 2050. At the same time, the Commission suggests completing the high-speed rail network by 2050 and tripling the length of the standard-speed rail network by 2030. It suggests that all major airports should have rail connections, preferably high-speed rail, by 2050; - boosting efficiency of transport and infrastructure. The Commission recommends using computer systems and tax and money incentives and wants the technical updating of the SESAR air traffic control system to be completed by 2020. Modern, computerised traffic management systems should be developed in road transport (ITS), rail (ERTMS), sea (SeaSafety Network and long-distance ship identification systems/LRIT) and inland waterways (RIS). By 2020, the Commission is planning to set up a single payment and management system for all forms of transport, to increase road safety and the use of transport self-funding. Financial resources should be provided in the form of “the user pays” and “the polluter pays” and with greater private sector involvement.
When it comes to finance, the Commission suggests a new infrastructure financing system should be set up, based on special criteria and long-term planning. Some trillion and a half euro will be needed to develop infrastructure from 2010 to 2030, suggests the Commission. Finishing the TEN-T networks will require some €550 billion by 2020, with €215 billion of this to iron out the bottlenecks at border crossings and elsewhere.
In order to attract private sector investment, the Commission is planning to harmonise the signing of public-private partnerships (PPP). It plans to develop a methodology for screening TEN-T projects liable to attract private investment. It is also suggesting that the way ticket prices and taxation is calculated should be changed in two phases. The first phase, from now until 2016, would see a restructuring of charges and transport taxes to reflect the total cost of transport in terms of infrastructure and external costs. In the second phase, from 2016 to 2020, the Commission would like to introduce full and compulsory internalising of external costs in road and rail transport over and above wear and tear to cover the cost of noise pollution, local air pollution and congestion. It also plans to internalise the local and noise pollution costs of ports and airports and is considering making it compulsory for charges to be levied on inland waterways.
Differences of opinion on modal shift
The transport sector gave general approval of the vision of the system presented in the White Paper, but remained deeply divided on the issue of the “modal shift”, which the Commission has re-introduced. The Association of European Regional Airlines (ERA) said that “the traffic share of each mode should therefore be determined by the market and not Commission policy”. On behalf of the airport operators, Secretary General of ACI-Europe Olivier Jankoviec warned that “the extensive rail developments announced will only absorb 0.5% of the total demand for air transport” which is forecast virtually to double by 2030. Car producers (ACEA) said that “a simple call for a decrease in the use of motor vehicles will not provide the easy solution” because there will “not be less demand for the flexible solutions that road transport provides in contrast to other modes”. The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has set its face firmly against increases in taxes, duties and charges, aimed solely at road freight transport, which will, it said, be used to cross-subsidise other transport modes. The associations representing inland waterway transport (EBU, ESO and INE), however, backed the modal shift in distances of less than 300 kilometres proposed by the Commission. The European Express Association also expressed reservations on moving 30% of road freight to rail and also on the proposal to restrict air freight on intercontinental routes. For the rail sector, the associations CER, EIM and UNIFE, warned against over-reliance on technological solutions. Jean-Michel Dancoisne of French Railways (SNCF) welcomed the initiatives in the White Paper and, in particular, use of the “polluter pays and user pays principles”. For the energy sector, Isabelle Muller of EUROPIA criticised the idea of the gradual move away from oil. She said that the proposed 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 should be based an analysis of the cost of CO2 reductions and the reliability of alternative fuels. The association of small and medium-sized enterprises (UEAPME) said that the measures proposed would have to be combined with steps to support European small businesses. (A.By./transl.fl/rt)