The European Commission has set up a High Level Group on Logistics to provide strategic advice on the impact of policy measures on logistics.
The move is a recognition of the importance of logistics to the EU economy. Six countries out of the global top-ten logistics performers are from the EU. The Commission sees the group as unique platform to consider actions targeted to enhance further the logistics sectors’ competitiveness and performance while at the same time contributing to the achievement of the European transport policy objectives.
[asset_ref id=”1682″] Kallas
Speaking at the launch, commission vice-president Siim Kallas said: “Logistics is a crucial business for the EU, providing 11 million jobs in the EU and representing 4.9 per cent of our economy in terms of added value. It is an inseparable part of the European transport policy and major contributor to business success. It is therefore paramount that we discuss the challenges ahead together with the stakeholders to fully unlock the potential of the European logistics and freight transport sector”.
Discussion at the group’s first meeting focused on the main bottlenecks that hinder freight logistics and transport. The members of the Group also discussed possible solutions that are expected to bring the desired improvements.
The group is made up of representatives of logistics service providers, customers of logistics companies, transport operators, ports/terminal operators, academics, IT companies and social partners. Members include:
Alan McKinnon, Professor and Head of Logistics, the Kühne Logistics University Of Hamburg
Lauri Ojala, Professor, Turku School of Economics, University Of Turku
Robert-Jan Zimmerman, CEO, Mercurius Shipping Group
Kerstin Geiger, Global Head Industry Solutions, SAP
Frank Appel, CEO, Deutsche Post DHL
Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO, TNT Express
Laurent Freixe, Executive Vice-President, Nestle
Clemence Cheng, Managing Director, Hutchison Port Holdings Central Europe Division
Rafael Aznar Garrigues, Chairman of the Port Authority of Valencia
Myriam Chaffart, Political Secretary Inland Waterways and Logistics, European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF)
Rodolphe Saadé, Executive Officer, CMA CGM
Niels Smedegaard, CEO, DFDS
Christian Kern, CEO, ÖBB Group AG
Hjoerdis Stahl, Executive Vice-President, LUXAIR Cargo
