Why the White Paper?

2011-12-13T00:31:00.000-08:00

With the publication of the White Paper in April of 2011, the members of the transport sector across the European continent expressed their concern as to the reasonability and feasibility of the document. The emission-cutting requirements and the stress placed on intermodality was presented in such detail that it seems almost impossible for successful implementation. Should this policy Paper will guide the European transport sector until 2050?

What is the WP all about then?

The underlying idea behind this document is the belief that the transformation of the European transport system is only possible through a combination of numerous different initiatives at all levels of the transport chain. The document lists out 1 target (60% less GHG emissions) and 10 specific goals to guide further policy action until 2050. There are 4 “I´s” that should be approached by the states [Internal Market; Innovation; Infrastructure; International], aided by 40 specific actions.

According to the document, the European Commission will focus on the creation of various legislative proposals to ensure the creation and the implementation of these changes. These proposals will list out key initiatives that follow the modern mandate of this White Paper Road Map. In terms of short sea shipping and intermodal transport specifically, out of the 10 main listed goals, the following are expected to have a direct impact on the industry in itself:

- The goal that 30% of road freight over 300 km should shift to other modes such as rail or waterborne transport by 2030, and more than 50% by 2050, facilitated by efficient and green freight corridors. To meet this goal will also require appropriate infrastructure to be developed.

- The aim to complete a European high-speed rail network by 2050. Tripling the length of the existing high-speed rail network by 2030 and maintaining a dense railway network in all Member States is vital. By 2050 the majority of medium-distance passenger transport should go by rail.

- Creating a fully functional and EU-wide multimodal TEN-T ‘core network’ by 2030, with a high quality and capacity network by 2050 and a corresponding set of information services.

- By 2050, connecting all core network airports to the rail network, preferably high-speed; ensure that all core seaports are sufficiently connected to the rail freight and, where possible, inland waterway system.

It is needless to say that the market’s reaction was not overly positive to this document. Such strict policy measures are however necessary in order to try to pressure the market to lower all kinds of external costs – instead of generally focusing on the direct price of the transportation, and to ensure that the public and the private sectors of the member states both invest in the implementation of the new transportation means!

As José Francisco Vidal wrote in the article for the ODISEO, the goals the White Paper set out for the European transport sector are very challenging, and only time can tell how the general European public will react to it, and whether the objectives will be achieved.

It is with this in mind that the Escola would like to encourage the alumni community to share their thoughts and doubts with regard to this document. Will the document aid the principles of the Green Paper, and ensure a sustainable development of the transport sector in Europe? Is in general a European document efficient in guiding national transport policies? Should more be done on a more executive level? Please feel free to post your comments and share your reactions with us at the Escola!

...and so the Odyssey begins...

2011-07-22T05:47:00.000-07:00

Odiseo (Odysseus) was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's Odyssey. The Greek poet Konstantinos Kavafis (Alexandria 1863) wrote the poem Ithaca, inspired by the Homeric return journey of Odysseus to his home island, based on the accounts from the original Odyssey.

The poem's theme is that enjoyment of the journey of life, and the increasing maturity of the soul as that journey continues, are all the traveller can ask for.

"When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,

pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithaca means."

Konstantinos Kavafis (1911)

The European School of Short Sea Shipping (or "the Escola" - which stands for school in Catalan) wanted that this character and these verses inspire the name of the bulletin, which from now on will be a part of the tools we will use to keep in touch with our alumni. The poem, in just a few lines, summarises that which we believe is part of our understanding of life: what's truly important is the road which we need to take in order to realize ourselves as citizens and serve our society.

The Escola is devoted to the education and promotion of "active logistic citizenship" - to educate citizens who will work towards the improvement of their logistic community through economic participation, public and/or volunteer work, and any other activities that aim to improve life for all citizens. To this end, the Escola seeks to provide citizenship education to its students.

We have tried to maintain this emotional bond which we created with the people who passed through our classrooms throughout the years - since 2004. The words of the writer and poet Fernando Pessoa, which were quoted in the last course organised by the Escola at the beginning of June 2011, effectively capture these emotions: "the value of things is not how long they last, but the intensity with which they occur. Thus there are unforgettable moments, inexplicable things and incomparable people!"

We have had, and we continue to have, extraordinary students and professors, capable of engaging themselves in the effort to overcome the changes and challenges that affect the development of "new logistics", born of the economic and transport crises models, which is based on fossil fuels that today are in decline. Capable of contributing to the development of a new Paideia - a new culture which reinforces the expression of strong will through which we sculpt our future, and which presents an ultimate justification for the existence of a shared community and of human individuality.

Our challenge is to try to keep the emotions with which many of our students leave us at the end of a course. We also try to make the Escola one of the elements of a social network in which all involved have the ability to teach, learn and to share all that lets everyone contribute towards the construction of a better future.

We intend to have the bulletin published in various social networks, to bring it closer to all, and we would like for its interactivity to be one of its fundamental elements. In its structure we have included information of interest at an European level on everything that is related to intermodal transport in its widest sense. We will try to have people who can share their thoughts on today's society, contemporary logistics, and everything else that shapes our philosophy and thoughts, contribute to the contents of the publication.

To achieve this we invite you to actively participate through contributions, comments and ideas. We hope that you will point us to areas that we can improve and to topics that we can deepen.

The Odiseo bulletin will accompany us on our voyage to Ithaca, and we hope that together we can arrive further.

With kindest regards,

Eduard Rodés
Director

and the Odiseo team at the Escola Europea de Short Sea Shipping

ODISEO Bulletin - 2E3S.eu

Why the White Paper?

...and so the Odyssey begins...