Brussels, 12/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - In a position paper published at the end of February, the Community of European Railways (CER) calls on legislators to retain the political priorities of the European Commission's 2011 White Paper on transport, if necessary by means of new legislation.
The paper examines a raft of objectives in the White Paper, divided into four categories: decarbonisation, pricing policy, infrastructure and modal transfer. With regard to decarbonisation, the White Paper calls for a 60% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050, compared with 1990. According to the CER, emissions have increased, to the extent that a 67% reduction in current emissions levels would be needed to achieve the initial target. It suggests that this objective be enshrined in law and that consideration be given to including greenhouse gas emissions by the transport sector in the emissions trading scheme.
On pricing, the CER states that, “despite being one of the most environmentally friendly transport modes, rail faces high energy taxes”. It calls, therefore, for higher taxation to be introduced on the most polluting forms of transport as a matter of urgency. This might require amendment of Directive 2011/76/EU on taxing heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructure. The CER considers that a “stable legal and regulatory framework is necessary” for the rail sector.
In terms of infrastructure, “the railway network in use has shrunk in the EU between 1990 and 2012”. The CER calls on European legislators to promote infrastructure construction and also to ensure that the member states finance it. It highlights “under-financing of rail infrastructure over the past decades”.
With regard to modal transfer, the White Paper set out a number of objectives, including “30% of road freight over 300 kilometres should shift to other modes such as rail or waterborne transport by 2030, and more than 50% should shift by 2050”. The CER says that no progress has been made on these points. At the start of March, the Court of Auditors stated that the situation was the same for inland waterways (see EUROPE 11266). The CER urges that the principle of the polluter pays be applied, through VAT and energy taxes. It suggests, too, that some of the revenue from tolls be used to develop the most environmentally friendly forms of transport.
The CER aims with the publication of this document to influence the mid-term review of the White Paper. On 10 March, the European Commission opened a consultation on this matter, to run until 2 June. (Jean Comte)