European countries holding back digitalisation

Advantages of e-documentation are well reported, both economically, socially and environmentally, with 16.5m cars transported annually in Europe result in 33m pieces of paper per year.

A legal framework for the use of electronic transport documents already exists for road, rail and maritime transport.

The e-CMR Protocol (2011) provides for the use of electronic consignment notes for international transport, but only eight EU Member States and Switzerland have ratified this international treaty to date.

EU Reporting Formalities Directive (RFD) 2010/65/EU aims to simplify, harmonise, and rationalise administrative procedures and reporting requirements for maritime carriers calling at EU ports.

By June 1, 2015 Member States should have implemented measures to allow the electronic submission and reception of reporting formalities concerning vessels, their crew and cargo via a ‘national single window’.

The association argues that due to a lack of effort being made by the majority of Member States to harmonise their national requirements, there is a patchwork of systems and requirements.

Speaking at the annual ECG Dinner Debate, held on April 19 in the European Parliament, host MEP Gesine Meissner spoke openly of the great need for digitalisation in transport logistics and the lack of sufficient harmonisation at Member State level.

The ECG is continuing to work closely on this issue with Car manufacturers through its recently established Finished Vehicle Logistics Industry group.