European Trade Policy

Time and place:

How to create opportunities for the Logistics industry 

BRUSSELS, 1 April 2014 – On the fourth event of the European Logistics Platform (ELP) in the European Parliament, 50 EU policymakers and industry stakeholders discussed the topic “European Trade Policy – How to create opportunities for the logistics industry”.

Andreas Schwab MEP, member of the Advisory Board of the ELP, hosted the event. Mr Schwab underscored the importance of free trade for the European economy and the crucial role of logistics for the connectedness of the EU into global trade. "Logistics is a key enabler to enter global markets, for industry as well as for SMEs. Therefore, it is our responsibility as policy makers to provide an adequate policy framework which integrates logistics into the European trade policy. This way, we will facilitate global trade flows which benefit growth and jobs in Europe”.

The event discussed all perspectives of European trade policy relevant for logistics: Frank Hoffmeister, Deputy Head of Cabinet to Commissioner de Gucht, gave the European Commission´s view on the significance of the Trans-Atlantic Investment and Trade Partnership (TTIP) for the logistics industry, discussing a highly topical cornerstone of European trade policy. Elena Bryan presented the complimentary perspective of the US Mission to the EU. For the business sector, Sean McGuire (Confederation of British Industry) emphasized the huge opportunities of free trade to stimulate growth and jobs and the need to continuously develop EU trade relations globally. Rémi Lebeda (IRU) presented the TIR system (Transport Internationaux Routiers), which significantly facilitates global supply chains and ensures simplified and secure cross border movement of goods.

The discussion highlighted a broad commitment across industry and policy makers to support European free trade policy and ongoing efforts for further trade facilitation. The performance of global supply chains depends on a variety of factors and policies, like the efficiency of customs administration, import and export procedures, safety and security regulation and standardized documentation requirements. A key success factor for an integrated trade policy will be to tackle existing barriers related to the supply chain and to streamline and simplify these factors. In this regard, the TTIP will be an important touchstone and can act as a role model for other regions.

For the European Logistics Platform, Alexander Kirschall, Chairman of the Steering Committee, reminded that Europe is home of a highly performing logistics industry: “If we manage to simplify supply chains globally, we are in an excellent position to contribute real value to Europe´s competitiveness.”

The European Logistics Platform consists of more than twenty industry stakeholders representing a wide variety of actors involved in logistics and supply chains across Europe. Current members are ACEA, BDL, CER, CLECAT, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Post DHL, duisport, ECG, EIM, ECSLA, FERRMED, FTA, HERE – a Nokia business, IRU, Michelin, Nordic Logistics Association, Transport en Logistiek Nederland, Rail Freight Group (RFG), Procter and Gamble, SAP, VdTÜV Verband der TÜV e.V., Volvo Group.