Access To European Transport Markets

The Round Table discussed the role of the transport sector in supporting regional economic integration. The event was hosted by the Hellenic Institute of Transport, Thessaloniki.

This book looks at the most recent transport and investment trends. It then examines the pan-European process of legal harmonisation and adjustment of transport systems and analyses emerging trade and transport links between Europe and Asia.

The European market for road transport suffers from several imperfections: social conditions of workers are in a poor state and open market access for European transport companies within the EU is not fully implemented either. Some hauliers go around existing rules and make use of?letterbox? companies to circumvent labour laws of the country they are actually primarily operating inches Better protection of workers from such practices is essential. However, uncoordinated national initiatives to protect national workers (e.g. minimum wage laws, prohibition for drivers to have their regular weekly rest in the cabin of the vehicle) risk fragmenting the international road transport market in the EU. In 2016 the European Commission published its Road Transport Strategy for Europe, and the Florence Road Forum brought together the most relevant stakeholders and experts to discuss one of the major endeavours of the strategy: establishing a free market for transport services and protecting the workers in the sector from unfair competition. This European Transport Regulation Observer reflects upon the discussions at the first Florence Road Forum?A European single market for road transport?? that took place in Florence on January 23rd, 2017.

Features the full text of a fact sheet entitled "Inland Transport: Market Access and Competition," provided by the European Parliament. Discusses the creation of a single transport market, road transportation, waterways, rail transport, and the role of the European Parliament.

Transport networks in Europe are insufficiently integrated and subject to widespread and increasing congestion, particularly on the roads. This publication addresses these issues and, more specifically, examines the problem of providing better access to Western Europe for peripheral regions and for Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the need to upgrade networks. * French language edition: ISBN 9282121992, FF300 *

This report examines the form regulation should take in rail freight markets to promote efficiency in railways and the wider economy.

Transport costs have been, and still are, an important component of trade costs, which are one the major determinants of the volume of trade, and thus of gross domestic product (GDP) and GDP growth. Studies show that two of the main determinants of transport costs are regulatory frameworks in transport sectors and transport infrastructure. The productivity and competitiveness of goods and services firms depends largely on access to low-cost and high-quality transport services, and those services have a powerful influence on economic growth. Countries commit themselves to increasing the efficiency of transport services, which can largely be achieved through increased competition and hence through liberalization of transport sectors. Since barriers to trade in transport services are typically regulatory in nature, this book provides a thorough discussion of international, regional, and country specific rules and regulations in those sectors. Concentrating on the EU, and Turkey in particular, it considers rules and regulations in transport sectors. It shows that economic liberalization pursued unilaterally, multilaterally, or regionally has beneficial effects for Turkey, and that the benefits from such liberalization are substantial. Furthermore, the volume shows that transport infrastructure is an important determinant of exports, and hence GDP and GDP growth.

"Four years after the European Commission adopted its Transport White Paper, CEPS formed a Task Force of experienced practitioners to review European transport policy. The members of this Task Force are now publishing their findings and conclude that numerous challenges remain in the European transport arena. The release of this report is timed to coincide with the forthcoming mid-term review by the Commission of EU progress towards a single market for transport. Until recently, EU transport policy has been firmly wedded to the twin ideas of "decoupling' transport from economic growth and encouraging a 'modal shift' from road to rail, especially for freight transport. With economic growth in the doldrums and an urgent need to reinvigorate the Lisbon strategy, however, many now believe that transport policy should play a central role in the process of enhancing European competitiveness. While progress has been made towards a coherent, EU-wide road transport policy, less has been achieved for rail, air and sea in recent years. The CEPS transport group sees future transport demand set to grow more strongly than anticipated due to internal market reforms and globalisation. If this growth materialises, rather than favouring rail, all transport modes and technological options must be allowed to play their appropriate part in meeting Europe's escalating transport needs. The good news is that this time there are hopeful signs that these ideas are gaining ground in both the Commission and the Parliament" -- back cover.