CLECAT, the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services, has called out the European Commission (EC) over its recent intention to withdraw the amendments to the Combined Transport Directive. “The existing framework creates barriers to the effective operation of combined transport and does little to stimulate the shift from long-distance road freight to more sustainable modes”, the association stressed.
CLECAT’s reaction comes after the EC revealed its intentions in the 2026 Work Programme. The association is not the first one to react adversely to this development. Combined transport group UIRR also recently voiced its disapproval. Moreover, the rapporteur of the Directive Flavio Tosi MEP said he and his colleagues will work hard over the next months to avoid the withdrawal.
The Greening Freight Package letdown
The Combined Transport Directive is a pillar of the Greening Freight Package, the EU’s plan to decarbonise the transport of goods across the Old Continent. The other pillars are the Weights and Dimension Directive, the CountEmissions EU and the Capacity Management Regulation. Initially, one of the main goals of the Package was to boost a modal shift to rail, but recent developments are making it look otherwise.
In combined transport, for example, the current Directive was compiled in 1992, over 30 years ago. By amending it, the industry hoped to create a more harmonised framework that would incentivise combined transport and make rail freight the backbone of European transport. Moreover, the sector has been asking to consider the directives for combined transport and weights and dimensions as one. However, even this request has not been concretely considered.
Finally, there are disagreements when it comes to the Capacity Management Regulation as well. First, the document was praised for bringing balance between infrastructure managers and railway undertakings. However, there remain issues on the role of IMs, the proposed European Railway Platform and cancellation penalties. Only time will tell if the Greening Freight Package will succeed in reaching the goal stated in its name or if it will just make transport in Europe even more fragmented.