Combined Transport Directive: A pragmatic plan as the way forward

CER together with AERRL, ERFA, UIP, UIRR and UNIFE call on the European Commission and EU Transport Ministers not to withdraw the proposal revising the Combined Transport Directive.

By combining road with rail, inland waterways and short sea shipping, Combined Transport reduces both carbon and pollutant emissions as well as energy use while strengthening supply chains.

The proposed revision of the Combined Transport Directive published by the European Commission in 2023 is currently blocked. To allow EU institutions to deliver concrete improvements for modal shift, intermodal competitiveness and European resilience, the rail sector suggests to:

• Keep the current Combined Transport definition under Directive 92/106/EEC;
• Continue to work on the rest of the proposal now, to achieve the urgently needed modernization wherever agreement is possible;
• Consider the technical proposals in the annex as a basis for advancing National Policy Frameworks, digitalisation, transparency, terminal and last-mile support, and targeted driving-ban exemptions.

Read below the Joint Position.