Sustainability in European Transport Policy
By Matthew Humphreys
The construction of the European Economic Communities in 1950 primarily set out to
build an integrated economic zone in which national borders were, to a large extent,
overcome. The ability of persons and goods to move freely within the economic zone was
seminal in the realisation of economic integration. Underlying this, and therefore an
implied necessity for European growth, an effective transport infrastructure was
essential. However, with rising awareness of environmental issues, and a closer regard to
sustainability of development, European transport systems and their regulation have come
under scrutiny.
This book sets out a critical analysis of the body of law and policy initiatives that
constitute the EU's common transport policy. The development of the transport policy is
charted through amending and founding Treaties as well as non-legislative documents. The
book uses a model of sustainability as the basis for the analysis as the criteria for
sustainable development were set out under Article Eleven of the Treaty on the Functioning
of the European Union. However, sustainable development, when taken in the context of
transport is difficult to reconcile with unbridled economic growth and unchecked freedom
of movement and the book identifies a contradiction at the heart of European policy which
can only become more accentuated as environmental trends become more explicit. The book
argues that European regulation will eventually be forced to recognize this dichotomy, and
take more forceful action to protect environmental and social development, even at the
cost of economic progress.
This book will be of great interest to researchers and students on European Union law and
policy courses, transport studies courses and European integration courses. The book is of
relevance to all those interested in environmental and transport matters.
Introduction
1. The Legislative and Policy Context of the Common Transport Policy
2. European Transport Initiatives
3. The Polluter Pays Principle: The Theory of Market Mechanisms
4. Road Pricing in Theory and Practice
5. Sustainable Development and Transport
6. The Polluter Pays Principle in Practice
7. Conclusions
216 pages, Hardback
