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CLECAT, the European association for forwarding, transport, logistics and customs services, welcomes the European Commission’s new strategy on the decarbonisation of transport, published on 20 July. Nicolette van der Jagt, CLECAT’s Director General, said: “CLECAT is glad to see the Commission pursuing a holistic approach to decarbonisation of the transport chain, taking into account low-carbon energy use, increased efficiency and innovative, intelligent management of the transport system. “Such a holistic approach should achieve a balance, offering the industry relevant alternatives without imposing a conflicting choice between costs and environmental benefits. It is vital that EU policy-makers and industry find the optimal and most efficient solutions for decarbonising transport, especially in terms of cost/benefit, so as to reduce transport’s climate footprint without harming the freight transport industry.”

The report of Kaja Kallas (ALDE/Estonia) on the Commission proposal for a directive on customs infringement and sanctions has been adopted on the 14th of July by the IMCO Committee, with 24 votes in favour, 4 against and 3 abstentions. In comparison with the initial proposal from the Commission, CLECAT is of the opinion that the text adopted by the IMCO Committee is an improvement.

On 7 June 2016, Steve Parker, President of CLECAT, expressed the views of the European freight forwarders on the UCC during the XXXIII ALACAT (Federation of National Associations of Freight Forwarders and International Logistics Operators in Latin America and the Caribbean) Congress held in Barcelona.

The European Commission has adopted a decision that renders legally binding the commitments offered by fourteen container liner shipping companies. The commitments aim to increase price transparency for customers and to reduce the likelihood of coordinating prices. CLECAT supported the move and called on the Commission to maintain scrutiny over pricing practices.

A universal method to calculate the carbon footprint of the logistics supply chain was released yesterday by the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) in Washington. GLEC, of which CLECAT is a member, is a group of companies, industry associations and programs, and backed by leading experts and other stakeholders.

CLECAT attended on Monday and Tuesday this week, the TEN-T days in Rotterdam. Ministers from 22 European Union Member States and over 2,800 transport experts and CEOs joined the 2016 edition of the high-level transport conference.

CLECAT has been following closely the results of the 23 June referendum in the UK, which saw British voters choose to leave the European Union. Nicolette van der Jagt, Director General of CLECAT said that she had hoped for a different outcome, and that the EU will in the future miss policy input of a country which has been a driving force for the single market, better regulation and open global trade

On 21 June, the rail sector and its customers, represented by CLECAT, CER, EIM, ERFA, ERTMS Users Group, ESC, UIP, UIRR, and UNIFE, and supported by the Rail Freight Corridors, presented a declaration at the TEN-T Days in Rotterdam, committing themselves to the aim of enhancing the competitiveness of the Rail Freight Corridors for the benefit of all customers, and to improving the quality, reliability and efficiency of transporting goods by rail across Europe.

CLECAT participated yesterday in a panel debate during the official launch of a study on the importance and added value of freight transport in the Benelux. This report was handed to the General Secretariat Benelux, to the transport sector of the Benelux countries, in the presence of M. Zakonjšek, Head of Cabinet for Commissioner Bulc.

On 16 June 2016, the European Commission decided to take legal action against France and Germany owing to the consequences of the application of their respective minimum wage legislation to the road transport sector. Nicolette van der Jagt, Director General of CLECAT welcomed the Commission’s decision as the French decree is too complex and burdensome for companies and would disrupt the internal market