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BackAn event by AK EUROPA in Brussels on the considerations of the European Commission concerning the future of transport within the European Union was met with great interest. Two days prior to presenting his draft report on the Transport White Paper in the European Parliament, rapporteur MEP Mathieu Grosch provided an initial insight into his deliberations on the transport sector. Eduardo Chagas, the General Secretary of the European Transport Workers' Federation and the Transport Policy expert of the Chamber of Labour Vienna, Thomas Hader, described the problems of both employees and users. Michael Nielsen of the International Road Transport Union completed the panel.
Santamato: Commission does not recognize competition between modes of transport
Sandro Santamato, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, explained the view of the Commission on the new “Transport White Paper”. The previous White Paper of the Commission dating from 2001 had contained a forced shift of transport from road to rail. However, in particular due to the enlargement of the European Union it has not been possible to reach this target. Trading with the new Member States was almost entirely taking place by road, said Santamato. Hence, the new White Paper of the Commission is pursuing a new approach. Today, the Commission views transport systemically and the Commission has abandoned the concept of competition between the different modes of transport.
Chagas: The working conditions of employees must come first
Eduardo Chagas, General Secretary of the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), began his contribution by pointing out that, in his opinion, the working conditions of employees within the transport sector were to come first. He criticised that many issues were left to the free market. Chagas did not regard this as a good solution and came out in favour of binding regulations. According to the ETF General Secretary, the past had shown that regulations were needed and that one had failed to this day to draw the right conclusions from the mistakes that had been made. In its White Paper, the Commission recommends the social partners to create common regulations for better working conditions. However, Eduardo Chagas does not believe that the current situation will bring about such an agreement. The General Secretary of the European Transport Workers' Federation concluded his contribution with the remark that the situation the transport sector was currently in could by no means be described as paradisiacal. In particular, employees were forced to make compromises regarding their social life.
Michael Nielsen: All modes of transport are needed for efficient and greener transport
In his initial statement, Michael Nielsen of the International Road Union (IRU), a road transport organisation at international level, commented that costs had nothing to do with selecting respective modes of transports. Often there was no option to choose between individual transport modes. According to Nielsen, there is only a small percentage of the transport sector in which competition took place. Concerning the discussion with regard to the smaller portion of rail transport, Michael Nielsen in particular criticised the railway undertakings: both the French railway SNCF and Deutsche Bahn would do 50 percent of their business by using their haulage companies on the road, said the IRU representative. As to the working conditions, Nielsen commented that 85 percent of the journeys were less than 150 km. Hence, from his point of view, employees are able to enjoy a normal social life. However, the conditions for drivers had to be improved; for example additional resting places should be required with regard to road transport.
Mathieu Grosch: More emphasis has to be placed on environmental impact
Although the MEP Mathieu Grosch, the responsible rapporteur in the European Parliament, recognizes that some of the targets defined in the 2001 White Paper had been achieved, he points out that the internalisation of the external costs of all modes of transport has clearly not been accomplished. However, the realisation of all targets remains an important issue for Grosch. The modes of transport had to be used more efficiently and more attention had to be paid to the criteria concerning the environment, social issues and the economy. Concerning the working conditions, Grosch commented that it was lorry or bus drivers only who were subject to such a comprehensive EU regulation framework. However, within the scope of implementing the Directives, individual Member States have taken measures to protect themselves, which in turn has led to a poor result, says MEP Grosch. According to MEP Grosch, Wages are very low because there were no common rules.
Thomas Hader: White Paper does not commit to public transport
Transport Policy expert of the Chamber of Labour Vienna, Thomas Hader, criticised that the new EU transport concept does not achieve the CO2 reduction targets. Passenger cars were only occupied by one or two people; hence their capacity was only used at a level of 25 percent. Such low utilisation in rail transport would result in routes being closed. Apart from that, Hader misses a clear commitment to public transport in the White Paper. The AK expert also criticises the use of biofuels: The EU is already using more resources, such as cereals and foodstuff, than are available in the European Union. According to Hader this clearly shows that this concept is not sustainable. With regard to the proposals of the Commission to increase the costs of passenger transport, Hader points to the necessity to provide commuters with affordable transport options. 25 percent of commuters do not have access to adequate public transport. This makes it more difficult to achieve a significant behavioural change in the transport sector, according to Hader. Hence, it was important to improve railway services, concluded the AK expert.
The discussion with the audience in particular focussed on the tensions between rail and road. Other points of the debate addressed the energy demand of the transport sector and urban mobility.
White Paper of the European Commission on the Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area
Draft report on the Transport White Paper by MEP Grosch
Sandro Santamato, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, explained the view of the Commission on the new “Transport White Paper”. The previous White Paper of the Commission dating from 2001 had contained a forced shift of transport from road to rail. However, in particular due to the enlargement of the European Union it has not been possible to reach this target. Trading with the new Member States was almost entirely taking place by road, said Santamato. Hence, the new White Paper of the Commission is pursuing a new approach. Today, the Commission views transport systemically and the Commission has abandoned the concept of competition between the different modes of transport.
Chagas: The working conditions of employees must come first
Eduardo Chagas, General Secretary of the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), began his contribution by pointing out that, in his opinion, the working conditions of employees within the transport sector were to come first. He criticised that many issues were left to the free market. Chagas did not regard this as a good solution and came out in favour of binding regulations. According to the ETF General Secretary, the past had shown that regulations were needed and that one had failed to this day to draw the right conclusions from the mistakes that had been made. In its White Paper, the Commission recommends the social partners to create common regulations for better working conditions. However, Eduardo Chagas does not believe that the current situation will bring about such an agreement. The General Secretary of the European Transport Workers' Federation concluded his contribution with the remark that the situation the transport sector was currently in could by no means be described as paradisiacal. In particular, employees were forced to make compromises regarding their social life.
Michael Nielsen: All modes of transport are needed for efficient and greener transport
In his initial statement, Michael Nielsen of the International Road Union (IRU), a road transport organisation at international level, commented that costs had nothing to do with selecting respective modes of transports. Often there was no option to choose between individual transport modes. According to Nielsen, there is only a small percentage of the transport sector in which competition took place. Concerning the discussion with regard to the smaller portion of rail transport, Michael Nielsen in particular criticised the railway undertakings: both the French railway SNCF and Deutsche Bahn would do 50 percent of their business by using their haulage companies on the road, said the IRU representative. As to the working conditions, Nielsen commented that 85 percent of the journeys were less than 150 km. Hence, from his point of view, employees are able to enjoy a normal social life. However, the conditions for drivers had to be improved; for example additional resting places should be required with regard to road transport.
Mathieu Grosch: More emphasis has to be placed on environmental impact
Although the MEP Mathieu Grosch, the responsible rapporteur in the European Parliament, recognizes that some of the targets defined in the 2001 White Paper had been achieved, he points out that the internalisation of the external costs of all modes of transport has clearly not been accomplished. However, the realisation of all targets remains an important issue for Grosch. The modes of transport had to be used more efficiently and more attention had to be paid to the criteria concerning the environment, social issues and the economy. Concerning the working conditions, Grosch commented that it was lorry or bus drivers only who were subject to such a comprehensive EU regulation framework. However, within the scope of implementing the Directives, individual Member States have taken measures to protect themselves, which in turn has led to a poor result, says MEP Grosch. According to MEP Grosch, Wages are very low because there were no common rules.
Thomas Hader: White Paper does not commit to public transport
Transport Policy expert of the Chamber of Labour Vienna, Thomas Hader, criticised that the new EU transport concept does not achieve the CO2 reduction targets. Passenger cars were only occupied by one or two people; hence their capacity was only used at a level of 25 percent. Such low utilisation in rail transport would result in routes being closed. Apart from that, Hader misses a clear commitment to public transport in the White Paper. The AK expert also criticises the use of biofuels: The EU is already using more resources, such as cereals and foodstuff, than are available in the European Union. According to Hader this clearly shows that this concept is not sustainable. With regard to the proposals of the Commission to increase the costs of passenger transport, Hader points to the necessity to provide commuters with affordable transport options. 25 percent of commuters do not have access to adequate public transport. This makes it more difficult to achieve a significant behavioural change in the transport sector, according to Hader. Hence, it was important to improve railway services, concluded the AK expert.
The discussion with the audience in particular focussed on the tensions between rail and road. Other points of the debate addressed the energy demand of the transport sector and urban mobility.
White Paper of the European Commission on the Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area
Draft report on the Transport White Paper by MEP Grosch