Short-distance sea transport : an effective alternative in a sustainable transport chain. 2nd report

The committee adopted the report by Karla PEIJS (EPP/ED, NL) drawn up in response to the Commission's second two-yearly progress report on short sea shipping. The committee asked the Commission and Council to take steps to increase the contribution of this form of shipping to the European transport system, particularly in view of the traffic congestion, expensive infrastructure and high environmental costs associated with other modes of transport. National governments were urged to introduce measures to expand the proportion of goods carried by short sea shipping. The committee also believed that the industry should be promoted by providing aid from European funds. In addition, it asked the Commission to establish a body at European level to achieve the necessary coordination between all the relevant parties, private and public, involved in developing short sea shipping.�