Future Actions on Freight Logistics

Time and place:

ELP calls for concrete steps to tackle the challenges of the logistics industry 

BRUSSELS, 14 October 2014 – At the sixth event of the European Logistics Platform (ELP) in the European Parliament, 50 EU policymakers and industry stakeholders came together to discuss future actions on freight logistics. The event was hosted by Wim van de Camp MEP, who underlined the importance of strengthening the logistics sector in the European Union: “Accounting for more than 10% of Europe’s GDP, the logistics sector is a key driver for the European economy. If Europe wants to remain competitive in this sector, we have to ensure that we as policy makers provide the right framework conditions to support logistics companies in the challenges that they face”.

The event discussed a variety of possible actions in particular with regard to freight logistics. Fotis Karamitsos, Deputy Director-General of DG MOVE, gave the European Commission´s view on freight transport logistics. For the business sector, Dr. Tobias Meyer, Executive Vice President Corporate Development at Deutsche Post DHL, emphasized the huge opportunities of an interconnected European logistics sector to stimulate growth and jobs. Maher Chebbo, Vice President/ Head of EMEA Energy & Natural Resources at SAP, highlighted the important role of digital logistics and innovations which will have a major impact on the logistics sector in the foreseeable future.

According to him, policy recommendations need to pay particular attention to real time digital logistics, as they have a strong bearing upon Europe’s competitiveness in the future. For the European Logistics Platform, Alexander Kirschall, Chairman of the ELP, emphasized that this parliamentary term does have the potential to pave the way for a more competitive, innovative and sustainable Europe: “Even though it is generally accepted that the logistics sector in the EU, with more than seven million employees, is important, there is no true European framework for the logistics sector. The reason for this lies in the cross-sector nature of logistics as well as the corresponding low level of visibility. This is why we call on the Members of Parliament to support the initiative of establishing an interparliamentary group on logistics.”

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 AEA, ACEA, BDL, CER, CLECAT, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Post DHL, duisport, ECG, EIM, ERFA, ESC, ECSLA, FERRMED, FTA, HERE - a Nokia business, Hutchison Whampoa, IRU, Michelin, Nordic Logistics Association, P&G, RFG, SAP, Transport en Logistiek Nederland, VdTÜV Verband der TÜV e.V., Volvo Group.

For more information: www.europeanlogisticsplatform.eu