de | en |    Pressemitteilungen04.09.2008

Cramer report "Freight transport in Europe": Parliament calls for greener transportation of goods

The European Parliament's report on "Freight transport in Europe" was today adopted with a large majority (541:6:15). Commenting on the vote, Michael Cramer, rapporteur and transport spokesman for the Greens in the EP, said:

"Europeans are increasingly suffering under the burden of growing freight traffic, especially on the road. My report seeks to get to grips with the burgeoning truck problem. It sets clear targets for the EU Commission's freight transport action plan, which is due to be presented soon.

I bolstered the Commission's proposal for "green corridors". Traffic should be shifted to more environmentally friendly modes of transport to reduce accidents, congestion and noise and air pollution. Renewables are seen as vital in my report, which makes special mention of wind and solar energy.

With the inclusion of the "polluter-pays-principle" for all modes of transport, the report gives also a sends a clear signal on the Eurovignette debate: heavily polluting truck traffic must no longer be subsidised; external costs must be internalised.

The EU still has a long way to go to shift significant freight traffic from road to rail. In Europe, only 17 percent of goods are transported by rail. Even in US, a highway-dominated country, the figure is 40%. The EU will only be able to cope with its growing freight transport if its rail infrastructure is massively improved."