Guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network
The European Commission is asking for feedback on guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network. EU policy on transport infrastructure aims to facilitate transport...
Increasing power of Chinese logistics and a need to maintain fair competition
ESC President Roman Stiftner commented on the increasing market power of Chinese logistics companies. In his interview to the BVL magazine he stated that the developments...
Conference “Fit for 55: the Road Ahead”, 1 June 2022
Brussels, 1 June 2022, International Road Transport Union and the European Commission are organising "Fit for 55: the Road Ahead" conference which will be held physically...
Emissions reduction, EU Emissions Trading system, and road transport
CO2 emission standards for cars and vans On April 20, the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) adopted its opinion on the Amending...
EMSA report on COVID-19 Impact on Shipping
The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) report provides figures on the impact of COVID-19 on shipping traffic; it is based on solid vessel movements statistics showing...
Metals for Clean Energy
Last week, at Metals for Clean Energy: Solving Europe's raw materials challenge event, experts debated how to bridge Europe’s metals supply gap, securely and sustainably. A...
European Commission answers European Parliament on extremely high container prices and impact on consumer prices
The recently published Eurostat figures mark a record high 5.1% inflation in the Eurozone in January 2022. In the Netherlands, inflation has even climbed to 6.4%...
The ESC supports the EC proposal for alternative fuel infrastructures and welcomes the EP´s draft report
European Shippers’ Council applauds the determined actions taken by the European Parliament and the European Commission to establish a proper and pan-European network of sufficient charging...
ENTRANCE & EIT Urban Mobility call: Intelligent Transport Systems for sustainable city logistics
European project ENTRANCE and EIT Urban Mobility are calling on all solution providers ready to deliver Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) for sustainable city logistics for European...
Webinar “Maritime Supply Chain Challenges in Disrupted Times”, 26 April 2022
Shippers are cordially invited to participate in "Maritime Supply Chain Challenges in Disrupted Times" webinar that will take place on the 26th of April 2022, 11.00-12.15...
Maritime market: Commission doesn’t consider behaviour of alliances anti-competitive; ESC wants the EC to do its job
24th March 2022, in its response to Member of the European Parliament Vera Tax regarding the situation in the maritime sector – competition, the selective picking...
Shifting cargo to rail, new shift2030 initiative
Last week, 28 March 2022, shift2030 – an enterprise that promotes the modal shift - launched the Time2Shift action to provide practical information to shippers and...
PLANET’s liaison with other EU-funded initiatives and projects
In the project PLANET - Progress towards Federated Logistics Through The Integration Of TEN-T into A Global Trade Network - ESC is leading a task on...
European Innovation Procurement Awards
The European Innovation Council has launched the second edition of the European Innovation Procurement Awards to promote and implement innovation procurement across Europe. “Innovation procurement boosts...
New guidance to support logistics industry towards zero emissions
As an associate partner of the Global Logistics Emissions Council, ESC welcomes a new initiative of the Smart Freight Centre and WBCSD co-developed with 30+ global...
Public consultation: extension of EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation
The European Commission has decided to propose a revision of the European Digital Certificate Regulation and to extend the use the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC)...
Commission state aid due to war situation in Ukraine
The current war situation in Ukraine, the sanctions imposed by the EU and international partners against Russia and Belarus, and the counter measures taken by Russia...
Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and UK
24 March 2022, European Commission published Annual Report on the implementation and application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United...
ESPORG Award Ceremony 2022
ESPORG, the European Secure Parking Organisation, in partnership with its public and private stakeholders from the road transport and supplier industries, established a dedicated Excellence in...
ALICE position on Fit for 55
ESC, as a member of the European Technology Platform ALICE, contributes to the ALICE activities in research, innovation, and market deployment of logistics and supply chain...
PLANET’s living labs to analyse global trade, infrastructure issues, and TEN-T
The EU project PLANET has published a short video summarising the background, the key objectives, and an overview of the three Living Labs contributing to analysing...
Innovations in logistics – report December 2021
This paper is the result of a research conducted by three MSc students of the University of Groningen under the supervision of the program managers of...
Call for Innovation for the Business Plan 2023-2025 – Apply until 28 April 2022!
EIT Urban Mobility, which is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), launches a call for Innovation for the Business Plan 2023-2025...
Consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for trade and logistics
Russia's military invasion of Ukraine has far-reaching consequences for logistics and trade with Ukraine and the surrounding region. ESC is first and foremost seriously concerned about...
ESC contributes to EC consultation on weights and dimensions
ESC sees innovation as an indispensable tool in emissions reduction. Longer and heavier vehicles can be seen as an innovative measure that can be applied directly....
EU adopts new road charging rules for greening road transport
17 February 2022, the EU adopted new rules on road charging. The new system will improve incentives for more efficient and sustainable road transport. It will...
Inquiry in the container shipping sector is needed to remove unfair and discriminatory rules
ESC supports CLECAT in its call for an urgent inquiry in the container shipping. High freight costs accompanied by discrimination and extremely low quality of services...
Maritime disruption to be discussed at Container Shipping conference
European Shippers’ Council will present their crucial insights into current trends and effective container shipping techniques to global industry leaders at the Container Shipping Conference in...
The role of maritime trade in the post-COVID recovery
Shipping has a vital role to play in post pandemic recovery for the EU but must not be ignored in reforms to the bloc's trade policy,...
A regular chemical train on the New Silk Road
As soon as the Chinese New Year is over, a regular chemical train may be running on the New Silk Road. That is the plan of...
Inland waterway transport needs investment
In its opinion adopted at the January plenary, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) supports transport multimodality and smart shipping, pointing out that inland waterway...
Commission consultations on the greening and digitalisation of the mobility, transport and automotive ecosystem
24th January, 2022, the Commission invites interested parties to reflect and contribute on the transition of the mobility ecosystem, covering automotive, waterborne and rail supply. The...
Mobility ecosystem: scenarios for a transition pathway
The European Commission published the Commission staff working document "For a resilient, innovative, sustainable and digital mobility ecosystem - scenarios for a transition pathway." For more...
Disruption of maritime supply chains
Due to disturbed supply and demand, shipping capacity was withdrawn until mid-2020 from various trade lines, which caused bottlenecks when demand grew rapidly again. What is...
Trade: economic coercion by third countries and sustainable corporate governance
On January 25, the European Parliament Committee on International Trade held a first exchange of views on the Commission's proposal for a regulation on the protection...
Study on freight transport: relaunching transport and tourism in the EU after COVID-19
The thematic study "Relaunching transport and tourism in the EU after COVID-19: Freight transport" provides an overview of the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on EU...
#ChallengeMyCity Call for Pilots still open
ESC is a partner in the European project ENTRANCE. ENTRANCE would like to draw the attention of innovators to the #ChallengeMyCity Call for Pilots supported by...
Supply chain partners in constructive dialogue to overcome logistics challenges
Brussels, 14 December 2021 - Shippers and carriers met to talk about the causes and effects of recent supply chain disruption coinciding with the COVID 19...
The 6th Plenary Meeting of the Digital Transport and Logistics Forum
ESC, as a full member and active observer of the Digital Transport and Logistics Forum, participated in the DTLF’s 6th Plenary Meeting on the 8th of...
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council: Fit for 55 package
The Fit for 55 package aims to help the EU reach its target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared...
New trends in road freight transport
On the 9th of December 2021, the Transport Council met to discuss the file 'New trends in road freight transport: The inflation of the number of...
The role of the EU budget in the Fit for 55 package
On the 9th of December 2021, the Committee on Budgets held an exchange of views with Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans on the...
UK-EU regulatory divergence tracker
The UK in a Changing Europe’s regulatory divergence tracker provides an overview of where and how the UK has used its newfound regulatory freedoms to diverge...
Winners of the ENTRANCE Open Competition
The winners of the ENTRANCE Open Competitions are CONTAI, SpotVessels GmbH, Alterkraft, Last Mile Team S.L., and PEOPLE. ENTRANCE's special congratulations of the prize challenge goes to CONTAI, who...
Current and future challenges in the supply chain
At the Port of Antwerp Intermodal Marketplace on the 9th of November 2021, ESC Secretary General Godfried Smit talked about current and future challenges in the...
ESC position on Fit for 55
The European Shippers’ Council understands the need to manage emissions and ESC members are committed to work on sustainability goals. Fit for 55 proposals are a...
Council adopts revision of Eurovignette Directive
On 9 November, the Council of the European Union formally adopted at first reading the revision of the Eurovignette Directive. The final text results from the...
TIACA sustainability roadmap
As part of its sustainability agenda, the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has published the industry’s first Air Cargo Sustainability Roadmap. This comprehensive publication is designed...
TIACA annual sustainability survey
The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has launched a survey on sustainability. With this year’s survey, TIACA aims to measure the progress the air cargo community...
Use of vehicles hired without drivers: Parliament and Council reach provisional agreement
The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the proposal during the second trilogue on 26 October 2021. The revision clarifies the current...
European Commission: report on the implementation of Free Trade Agreements
The Commission will present its Report on the Implementation and Enforcement of EU Trade Agreements over 2020 to the members of the Parliamentary Committee on International...
Fit for 55 Package: aviation and A4E position
ESC is in line with the ambitious objectives of ‘Fit For 55’ package proposals of July 2021. For airplanes, it is unavoidable that the switch from...
COVID-19: restrictions to access workplaces from 1 November in Austria
In Austria, as of 1 November 2021, everybody who has physical contact with other people in their workplace, being employees, owners or operators, are only allowed...
ESC recommendations regarding Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
To combat carbon leakage, which until now has been regulated in the EU Emissions Trading System itself, a new instrument is being developed: Carbon Border Adjustment...
The European Commission’s follow up on the measures for cleaner maritime transport
The European Commission has assessed the European Parliament non-legislative resolution on technical and operational measures for more efficient and cleaner maritime transport. The resolution calls for...
Environment Council: exchange of views on ‘Fit for 55’ package
6th October, 2021 the Environment Council Ministers held an exchange of views on the 5 proposals presented by the Commission under the Fit for 55 package...
Italy: obligation for drivers to have a COVID pass to access company premises
A summary of measures in Italy applicable as of 15 October contains the following: 1. Continued obligation of the compilation of the Passenger Locator Form (PLF)...
WTO: new edition of “Trade Profiles”
11th October, 2021, the WTO issued the latest edition of its annual statistical publication, Trade Profiles, which provides a series of key indicators on merchandise trade...
WTO: customs new tool
9th October, 2021, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) launched a new online tool to keep track of changes in the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System...
G20: meeting on trade and Sorrento Declaration
On 12 October, the G20 Ministers responsible for international trade met in Sorrento. The topics among others included: link between trade and health; digital trade, participation...
Brexit: further facilitation of the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
13 October, 2021, the European Commission proposed bespoke arrangements to respond to the difficulties that people in Northern Ireland have been experiencing because of Brexit, by...
The future of EU-US relations
6th of October, 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the future of EU-US relations. For more information please see here.
EU-Qatar : EU and Qatar sign landmark aviation agreement
The EU-Qatar agreement will expand commercial opportunities and trade and will facilitate people-to-people contacts. Going beyond traffic rights, the agreement will provide a single set of...
2-3 November, Asian Logistics, Maritime, and Aviation Conference
2-3 November, 2021, Asian Logistics, Maritime, and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) will be staged virtually. Themed “Resilience．Agility．Sustainability – Reshaping the Global Supply Chain”, over 15 thematic forums...
New president of European Shippers’ Council
Roman Stiftner: “Supply chains have to become more transparent in order to build stability and resilience.” At the ESC Board meeting of October 19th 2021, Roman...
ENTRANCE – Open Competition now launched! SCALE YOUR INNOVATIVE TRANSPORT & MOBILITY SOLUTION!
The European project ENTRANCE has launched an open competition where participants will present their innovative transport and mobility solutions that will improve the sustainability of urban...
ESC sets out recommendations for due diligence legislation
European Shippers’ Council, representing importers and exporters throughout Europe, welcomes the work of the European Commission on due diligence goals. ESC believes that the interplay of...
‘Fit for 55’ package from an industrial perspective
EU internal market and industry ministers discussed the impact of the new climate and energy package on the economy and industry. Ministers broadly agreed that the...
MATCH 2 RAIL supports shipper in shifting freight to climate-friendly rail
MATCH2RAIL solution, launched by the shift2030 initiative and digi-trust.eu B.V., is creating more visibility of the available rail routes for shippers. Shippers can easily upload their...
The Commission says it monitors antitrust compliance in the container shipping sector
Executive Vice-President Vestager answered the written question about the unfair practices in the container shipping industry that have been disrupting entire supply chains. The question came...
“Governments must now intervene in the supply chain”
“Governments should intervene to “restore order” in global logistics chains,” President/CEO Takeshi Hashimoto of the Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) said in an interview...
EU-US trade
The EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) met for the first time in Pittsburgh on 29 September 2021. It was co-chaired by European Commission Executive Vice...
France will enforce the 40-ton rule for cross-border traffic with Belgium
France has announced that they will start enforcing a European rule that limits cross-border traffic within the EU to 40 tons, despite the allowance of 44...
British freeports may negatively affect Dutch seaports
The Dutch Institute for Transport and Logistics (Kennisinstituut voor Mobiliteit, KiM) investigated the case of the British freeports to be developed as places of settlement. Freeports...
Rail traffic situation in Germany
There have been many disturbances in the railroad sector recently. Due to the strikes in Germany, the planning of transport for shippers was difficult for days,...
EUROCONTROL study on climate change risks for European aviation
A new report carried out by Egis and the UK Met Office on behalf of EUROCONTROL assesses how existing weather trends have impacted aviation in recent...
New Silk Road no longer needs subsidies
The pandemic taught a lesson that the success of the New Silk Road does not rely on the Chinese subsidies, or any other subsidies for that...
Inland transport of dangerous goods: EC to authorise certain national derogations
Please click here to access the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1436 of 31 August 2021 amending Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council...
Strike in Germany is hampering EU supply chains
Godfried Smit, ESC Secretary General, talked to RTL Z news. Strike in Germany is hampering EU supply chains. Many companies have no alternative mode for transport....
PLATINA3 survey on greening challenge
The EU-funded PLATINA3 project intends to provide targeted coordination and support activities to promote inland waterway transport (IWT) in Europe. Inside the project, a specific task is...