“I AM” members agree on priority topics for 2017 and announce next plenary meeting at TOC Europe
Brussels, March 17th, 2017 – During the first 2017 meeting, the 22 members of the newlyborn I AM Industry Alliance of transport chain stakeholders have agreed upon their common vision regarding multimodality, connectivity, logistics and growth and will start to work on the following issues:
– Reduction of air pollution: Decarbonisation, NOx and sulphur emissions
– Intermodality: Combined Transport Directive, interoperability and Inland Waterways connections;
– Digitalization: E-transport documents and the Reporting Formalities Directive.
The next plenary meeting of the Alliance will take place during the TOC Europe conferences to be held in Amsterdam from 27-29 June 2017. The meeting will be dedicated to a first evaluation of the work done by the members of the Alliance as well as to the adoption of the roadmap for 2018; in view of the multimodal year.
Why Multimodality?
For the members of the Alliance, policy makers should give more attention to multimodality. No cargoes reach consumers while using a single mode of transport. Efforts should therefore be mobilized to facilitate seamless and sustainable operations involving different modes of transport.
Why Connectivity?
If cargo reaches a port and cannot continue its journey then this is most probably due to the fact that multimodal connections linking ports to the hinterland are not optimal or sufficient. Members of the Alliance will focus on those measures allowing modes, nodes and industrial clusters to be better connected.
Why Logistics?
Logistics is the cement that links operations aiming at ensuring that cargo reaches its point of destination as requested by customers. It is a key enabler sector for the European Economy. A 10- 30% improvement in efficiency in the EU logistics sector would potentially equal a 100 – 300 billion € cost relief for European industry(European Logistics Action Plan, 2007).
Efficiency in logistics will remain an important topic of the Alliance agenda given its crucial role for the further growth of an economically, socially, environmental, and socially sustainable industrial activity.
Why Growth?
Growth is the only way to reconcile the EU with long term recovery and should therefore be a priority for all EU institutions and businesses. All signing organizations believe that multimodality, connectivity and logistics are enablers which can play key roles to restore growth in Europe.
“The “I AM” Alliance will provide the industry with a platform to discuss issues of common interest in a more structured manner. The current political agenda, characterized by many challenges, such as the environmental performance of transport, the need for continuous innovation as a means to stay ahead of our competitors, etc., make it essential for the industry to talk to each other and to cooperate, where appropriate. We cannot continue to live in silos or move forward in an unstructured manner”, says Christophe Tytgat, Secretary General of SEA Europe. “This is valid for the transport industries in general and the maritime industries in particular. For maritime, there is an additional dimension to it”, he adds: “If we talk about the maritime clusters, we first need to talk between ourselves as maritime associations representing parts of the maritime cluster”.
For more information contact: Christophe Tytgat SEA Europe Secretary General 0032 2 230.27.91 – ct@seaeurope.eu
The Industry Alliance for Multimodal (IAM), launched on December 8th, 2016 involves 22 different organisations that have decided voluntarily to join forces to work together and in close cooperation with institutional and non-institutional platforms. I AM aims at widening the scope of the discussions to provide a holistic approach that industry would like to be able to promote in a targeted, independent and constructive way.
Members of the Alliance: AIVP- Association International des Villes Portuaires, BIC – Bureau International des Containers; CLECAT – European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services; EBA- European Boatmen Association; EBU – European Barge Association; the European Boatmen’s Association ; ECASBA – the Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents; ECG – the Association of Finished Vehicle Logistics; ECSA – European Community Shipowners’ Association; EFIP – European Federation of Inland Ports; EMPA – European Maritime Pilots’ Association; ESPO – European Sea Ports Organisation; ESC – European Shippers Council; ETA – European Tugowners Association; ETF – European Transport Workers’ Federation; EuDA – European Dredging Association; FEPORT, Federation of European Private Port Operators and Terminals; ICHCA International – the global cargo handling NGO; IRU -International Road Transport Union; PEMA -Port Equipment Manufacturers Association; SEA Europe, Shipyards and Maritime Equipment Association; UIP – International Union of Wagon Keepers; and UIRR -International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport, UNISTOCK –European association of professional portside storekeepers for agribulk commodities.
