“Europe is investing heavily in transport infrastructure, but we continue to deliver short-term and fragmented fixes. Investing in an integrated, efficient and safe transport network is the way reinforce the EU single market and make us more competitive. A reliable integration of our transport infrastructure and systems is critical for Europe’s strategic autonomy.” So says EFCA President Inés Ferguson, as the federation publishes a report on the resilience of Europe’s land transport network.
The European transport sector faces a multitude of climate- and man-made challenges, and addressing them requires not only large investments, but also a shift in mindset towards long-term planning, regional coordination and resilient infrastructure design. Waiting for the worst to happen and then reacting with expensive, disruptive and unsustainable repairs makes no sense and EFCA presents an alternative view of a European land transport system that is within reach, provided that a collaborative effort is adopted, that involves consulting engineers.
Since the resilience of critical infrastructure is a hot topic in political and business fora alike, EFCA highlights the need for an integrated approach. Consulting engineers are among the few stakeholders capable of providing solutions, owing to their skills but also direct knowledge of the European transport infrastructure across economic sectors and countries.
"If you think bridge collapses and cyber-attacks are just bad luck, you're on the wrong path. This report is the wake-up call our transport systems desperately need" underlines Jeffrey Seeck, Chairman of EFCA’s Future Trends Committee.
As well as adequate budgets, what is desperately needed is transformational policy and legislative change to ensure the transport system’s full adaptation to the new political and socioeconomic context. Many smart and sustainable solutions are already available from engineers, technology developers, etc. but are simply not asked for by the public sector or as seen as too expensive. The never-ending congestion and delays on our roads and railways prove that resilience is worth the investment.
The European Commission has recently published several key proposals, such as the dual civil and military use of infrastructure, a continent-wide High-Speed Rail Network and, most recently, the proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework While welcoming these measures, EFCA urges European and national policy makers to avoid half-measures and implement a truly comprehensive vision and policy for the transport sector.
Press contact: Sue Arundale, Director General
EDITOR’S NOTE: EFCA has member associations in 27 countries and is the sole European federation representing the business interests of professional engineering consultancy and related services, a sector that employs more than one million staff in Europe.