European Maritime Single Window environment + Electronic freight transport information

Key points

• The EESC welcomes both proposals as important steps toward the digitalisation of transport, which is one of the aims of the 2011 White Paper on transport policy and a step in the implementation of the new industrial strategy presented by the Commission in October 2017. The EESC supports the form of legislative act chosen; experience shows that clear and mandatory obligations on Member States are a necessity if an electronic information system is to work adequately across the European Union. Each proposal aims at an adequate degree of harmonisation considering the tasks to be fulfilled. The EESC believes that flawless functioning of the systems, ensuring security, integrity of communications, privacy and confidentiality of commercial and, as appropriate, other sensitive information, are key elements for creating confidence. The EESC draws attention to the ongoing work in the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) of the UN Economic and Social Council to ensure high and universal standards in this regard.