European Shippers’ Council expresses deep disappointment following the announcement by the European Commission, in its Work Programme for 2026, of its intention to withdraw the proposed amendment to the Combined Transport Directive. The proposal, introduced in November 2023 as part of the Greening Freight Transport Package, aimed to modernise and strengthen the EU framework supporting multimodal freight transport.
Combined transport remains a crucial element in achieving the European Union’s objectives for greener, more sustainable logistics. By encouraging the shift from road to more environmentally efficient modes such as rail and inland waterways, it contributes to reducing emissions, congestion, and energy consumption while maintaining the competitiveness of European industry and trade.
However, the necessary infrastructure ( including intermodal terminals, last-mile connections, and digital integration ) is still not in an optimal state across Europe. The proposed amendment would have provided a much-needed framework to incentivise and expand the use of combined transport and to support better coordination among transport modes.
With the withdrawal of this proposal, the goal of a stronger and more integrated multimodal transport system risks being delayed for several years. Shippers are, therefore, highly disappointed by this decision, which undermines progress towards the EU’s Green Deal targets and the decarbonisation of freight transport.
European Shippers’ Council strongly believes that enhanced collaboration between transport modes is essential to achieve greener and more efficient logistics chains, reduce congestion on roads, and ensure Europe’s competitiveness.