News
European Unions' Marco Polo programs, which aim at shifting freight away from the roads, have been ineffective and should be discontinued in their current design, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
Since 2003, the Marco Polo I and II programs have financed transport service projects designed to shift freight transport from road to rail, inland waterways and short sea shipping. The programs have been part of the EU transport policy objective to develop alternatives to road-only freight transport. This generally accepted objective aims to reduce international road freight traffic, thereby improving the environmental performance of freight transport, reducing congestion and increasing road safety. But the audit said that there were not enough relevant project proposals put forward because the market situation and the program rules discouraged operators from taking advantage of the scheme.
