Common Transport Policy: The Never Ending Journey

This article explores the reasons that delayed the progress of the Common TransportPolicy, underlying possible future developments. Even though Common Transport Policy (CTP) wasmentioned in one of the founding treaties of EU, it laid still until the 1980s. The paper begins bypresenting the importance of an open and efficient transport for a successful customs union, part ofthe most successful EU achievement- the single market. The article then analyses the successes of theCTP and its evolution since the signing of the Treaty of Rome. After outlining the progress made bythe European Union towards its objective, the article highlights the reasons for which the CommonTransport Policy laid dormant for almost two decades. As a sub-section, each means of transport isanalysed with the successes and failures/problems. Finally, several salient issues that are addressed inthe European Commission’s communication: A sustainable future for transport: Towards anintegrated, technology-led and user-friendly system are underlined.