The impact of the digitalization of transport on the European economy

Time and place:


Date:  17 March 2015
Time:  12:30
Place:  Hotel Renaissance - 1050 Brussels

 

Digitalization of logistics sector entails positive effects for European economy 

 

BRUSSELS, 17 March 2015 – At the seventh event of the European Logistics Platform (ELP), 40 EU policymakers and industry stakeholders came together to discuss the impact of the digitalization of transport on the European economy. The event was hosted by Wim van de Camp MEP, rapporteur of the INI report on the White Paper on Transport, who underlined the importance of seizing the opportunities of the digitalization of the transport sector: “Digitalization remains the most important aspect when it comes to innovation in the field of freight transport. The cost of a lack of interoperability in multimodal transport in Europe is as large as €12 billion per year. If Europe wants to remain competitive, we have thus to ensure that we as policy makers provide the right framework conditions that will stimulate the digitalization of the transport sector.”

 

The event discussed different stakeholder perspectives with regard to the challenges and opportunities of digitalization. Monika Heiming, Executive Director of EIM, gave an insight into the digital enablement of rail infrastructure management. For the air freight sector, Kee Kras (AEA) emphasized the huge opportunities electronic information management illustrating the initiatives already taken on eFreight in the aviation sector. Keir Fitch, Head of Unit, Research in the DG MOVE gave a presentation on how the European Commission supports innovation in transport and logistics through the ‘Mobility for Growth’ call of the Horizon 2020 research agenda. He emphasised the challenges of the European transport sector and how innovation can support industrial leadership and the competitiveness of the European industry.

 

In conclusion, Alexander Kirschall, Chairman of the European Logistics Platform said: “Europe needs to foster solutions based on state-of-the-art information and communication technologies, particularly in the field of the efficiency and service level in logistics chains. At the same time, the development of interoperable intelligent transport systems (ITS) has to be pursued to enable synchro-modal transport. Better connections and the deployment of innovative ICT across all transport modes will lead to a more sustainable, efficient and future-oriented transport system of the EU.”

 

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, ESC, ECSLA, ERFA, FERRMED, FTA, Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe B.V., HERE - a Nokia business, Hutchison Whampoa, IRU, Michelin, Nordic Logistics Association, P&G, RFG, SAP, TLN, VdTÜV Verband der TÜV e.V., Volvo Group.

 

For more information: www.europeanlogisticsplatform.eu