Overview

The 2001 White Paper

In September 2001, the Commission published its White Paper on 'European transport policy for 2010: time to decide, in which for the first time the Commission is placing the needs of the users at the heart of its transport strategy by proposing over 60 measures to refocus Europe's transport policy on the needs of its citizens. The first of these measures is designed to shift the balance between modes of transport by 2010 by revitalising the railways, promoting maritime and inland waterways transport and linking up the different modes of transport.

The European Commission wants to ensure that the development of transport in Europe goes hand in hand with an efficient, high-quality and safe service for the citizens. For Railways, the goal to achieve in 2010 is to maintain the modal share of rail transport at the same level of 1998, thus reversing the decline of rail transport observed over the last 30 years. Rail transport is thus expected to grow significantly as the total transport demand in 2010 is expected to be 40% higher than in 1998.

In its White Paper, the Commission also announced its intention to table a set of new proposals to improve access to the railway network for freight transport and to amend existing directives on the interoperability of conventional rail systems and High-Speed Rail systems, as well as a proposal to create a European Railway Safety and Interoperability Agency.

These proposals are further explained in section 'A New Package for the Railway Sector'.

The Commission adopted in June 2006 its mid-term review of the White Paper: Keep Europe moving - Sustainable mobility for our continent