EU Calls For Frieght Overhaul

The European Union should overhaul its freight transport system by reducing bureaucracy and promoting rail networks to make the industry greener and more efficient, the EU Commission has announced.

The Commission has laid out a set of initiatives to promote the creation of a European freight network to offer a better quality of service in terms of journey times, reliability and capacity.

The proposals focus on creating an integrated freight transport network connecting rail, maritime and inland waterway systems to create a "more attractive and competitive" market.

"The integration of these modes of transport into efficient logistic chains is essential in order to reconcile the economic efficiency and long-term development of transport", says Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot.

The volume of goods transported in Europe is estimated to increase by 50% between 2000 and 2020.

By Ozge Ibrahim