Resolution: Transports for sustainable development
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, convening in Berlin, Germany, on 19 October 2007,
-          Believes that the European transport system should offer citizens and the business sector a good, environment-friendly and safe infrastructure that is efficient in terms of the economy as a whole and sustainable in the long term while meeting the needs of rural and remote communities;
-          Notes that around 80% of European citizens live in an urban environment. They share in their daily life the same space, and for their mobility the same infrastructure. Urban mobility accounts for 40% of all CO2 emissions of road transport and up to 70% of other pollutants from transport;
-          Notes that global environmental threats concern us all and that international co-operation for a better environment is essential;
-          Notes that the transports still account for 30% of total energy consumption and 71% of total oil consumption in the EU;
-          Notes that in order to be able to drive cars in the future, without risking the environment, it is of great importance to develop renewable fuels that will replace fossil ones;
-          Notes that a good environment and economic growth can be combined and the market economy as a system is capable of environmental concerns. This demands that all environmental costs are part of the process. This is not the case today. For the transport sector it means that every mode of transport carries its own costs;
-          Notes that there are benefits to be won for the environment as well as for trade and development if the Member States cooperate for a more harmonised transport system;
-          Notes that an increased coordination of the different railway systems in Europe is important in order to make better use of the railway. Today the countries in Europe have different rules, electrical systems and track gauges. This costs money and contributes to an increase in transports on roads and by air;
-          Notes that European researchers on air transport and the aviation industry estimates that by 2020 have developed an aircraft with 50% less fuel consumption and emissions of CO2 compared to the aircrafts being produced today. Welcomes this development but would like to see additional environmental improvements in aviation;
-          Is of the opinion that shipping has a given place in a green transport system. Shipping leads to environmental impact on the ecosystem through waste gas emissions, waste and oil spill;
The ELDR congress in Berlin
-          Calls on the European Commission to present proposals that supports an expanding transport sector at the same time as emissions of CO2 are being reduced;
-          Calls on the ELDR member parties to convince their governments of the importance to reduce greenhouse emissions with 30% between 1990-2020;
-          Calls on the European Commission and Member State governments to give priority to research and development for a “greener” and more efficient transport sector;
-          Calls on Member State governments to motivate producers as well as consumers to invest in energy efficient vehicles run on environmentally friendly fuels;
-          Calls on the European Commission to include the transport sector in the emissions trading system;
-          Calls for an integrated European rail network;
-          Calls on the incorporation of air traffic in the emissions trading system;
-          Calls on the European Commission and Member States to finish urgently the connection of the AVE (high speed train) from Barcelona to Paris;
-          Calls on the European Commission to present a trading system for nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide that would contribute to improvements of the emissions problem;
-          Calls on the European Commission and the Member State governments to go from targets to action in the work for a sustainable development.