The fall of 2010 seems to be an important moment for the consolidation of the business infrastructures of carriers and logistics integrators. The consortium for Corridor 10, the Russia-Belarus- Kazakhstan customs union, the Budget Committee’s Communication on the new union budget philosophy, the directive stipulating the development of freight corridors are only a few key moments that will help speed up commercial exchange on the Eurasian platform. The consolidation of the south-Danube route in accordance with the multinational agreement signed between the countries in the Balkan region represents the basis for a new flow of goods. Correlated with the technical improvements brought to the other corridors in the region, Corridor 10, together with Corridor 4, will allow logistics integrators to speed up transport on the East-West axis.
Overlaid with these technical improvements, the provisions of the new directive stipulating the development of freight corridors will allow railway operators to significantly improve their offers related to frequency and punctuality. Correlated with the decision of the Eastern countries on establishing a customs union that will enter into force in 2012, these events pave the road towards new and better services and products in the field of logistics and rail freight transport. And the new multimodal terminal created in Ploieşti creates this link (through Corridor 9) between the Black Sea’s North and South axis. The projects for rail infrastructure modernisation are now targeted for European investments. The Communication issued by the Budget Committee concerning the reformation of the union budget tries to introduce a new European fiscal philosophy meant to improve the level of trans-national and intra-European cohesion.
The infrastructure, mobility and environmental protection projects represent the pillars for a new Europe, together with the offer for European research. Therefore, the funding provided for major projects has to be independent from the national financial troubles so as not to affect the joint objectives which, according to European officials, will determine the identification of new instruments to ensure co-financing and investment privatization. In this context, it’s no wonder that the focus of the political and transport business community is redirected from the local aspects of the liberalization process towards large continental shifts in the industrial and urban development fields. The Railway Days Summit 2011 and the International Transport Forum will both focus on these aspects of mobility and urban regeneration.
by Ştefan Roseanu
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