The paper was presented at the Polish Logistics Congress Logistics 2008 – “New challenges – new solutions”, Poznań, May 7-9, 2008.
The article is devoted to the foundations of European logistics policy. It covers: premises, the impact of changes in EU transport, and the goals and scope of logistics policy. It further points to the importance of standardizing cargo operations, liberalization in shaping the transport system, and the role of intermodal transport in creating European logistics policy.
1. Premises of European logistics policy
The enlarged European Union (27 member states) faces new challenges, including leveling differences in regional development, creating a new structure for the EU economy, and production, trade, and transport links within its territory. Logistics links with the entire world, and especially with the geographically closest surroundings, must also be taken into account. The goal is socio-economic development, and in particular, increasing the quality of life for Union citizens. In global economic competition with large areas such as Russia, China, the USA, or India, one can win mainly through the systematic increase in the competitiveness of EU products. A significant portion of product costs at the recipient’s location consists of logistics costs. Logistics costs, both direct and derivative, are caused by the unreliability or inefficiency of supply chains.
Transport is one of the elements of fundamental importance for maintaining and increasing European competitiveness. In modern society, handling complex transport operations requires highly efficient modes of transport and their coherent cooperation. Advanced and integrated logistics solutions can contribute to the optimization of freight transport operations, and thus to ensuring growth in Europe and its greater competitiveness on a global scale.
The European Commission drew attention to this as early as 1997 in its document on freight transport. It addresses the issues of a systemic approach to transport, with particular emphasis on intermodal transport.
The following groups of premises for creating a European logistics policy can be listed:
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the impact of logistics on the competitiveness of the economy,
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integration within the European Union,
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growing requirements of end-users,
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liberalization, in particular of transport and postal services.
In almost all areas of social life, goods logistics constitutes one of the fundamental conditions for economic activity, production, and trade. Time and cost factors are of decisive importance, influencing, among other things, the location of enterprises.
The deepening process of economic globalization means that logistics and its cost constitute an increasingly important means of competition and rationalization, and their importance for environmental protection is also growing. The European Commission emphasizes that transport is an essential factor in maintaining and increasing Europe’s competitiveness. In modern society, handling complex transport operations requires highly efficient modes of transport and their coherent cooperation.
Advanced and integrated logistics solutions can contribute to the optimization of freight transport operations, and thus to ensuring growth in Europe and its greater competitiveness on a global scale.
The full article in PDF format.