The associations say that the transport sector is continuing to move essential key goods, particularly medicines, medical devices, and food, needed to overcome the crisis even when general mobility has been restricted.

The associations represent infrastructure managers, operators, workers in all transport modes and logistics, contractors, local and regional authorities, logistics service providers, shippers, users and equipment suppliers in the maritime, port, inland waterway, rail, road, cycling, aviation and intermodal sectors as well as supporting industries and companies.

Each endorses the following statements intended to highlight the value of transport to decision makers across the European Union:

  • highlight the key role transport and logistics are playing for the supply of essential goods in this critical period and stress that transport infrastructure is in this respect critical infrastructure
  • show their respect and support to all workers in the supply chain who are enabling the continuity of transport services, the movement of goods and essential commodities, as well as the repatriation of stranded citizens, and thus playing a major role in helping European citizens overcome this crisis
  • call on EU member states to enable smooth border crossings for freight transport, both intra-EU and with third countries, in this respect fully support the establishment of green freight lanes in coordination with the concerned transport stakeholders
  • support the measures and actions taken at EU-level and by national governments to contain the spread of Covid-19 and call on the members states to coordinate their response to Covid-19 and to follow the European Commission’s guidelines on border management
  • reiterate the importance of protecting the health and safety of transport workers, notably through personal protective equipment, as well as access to clean and disinfected sanitary facilities, food and drinks
  • highlight that the transport and logistics sectors are based on a physical work force and call on the European Commission and the member states to facilitate its mobility, including repatriation of the transport work force, and
  • urge the policy makers to assist the heavily affected transport sector in its recovery, to ensure future connectivity for both passen­gers and freight, and to revitalise the arteries of the internal market as soon as the crisis is over.

Rail sector associations supporting the pledge include: Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM), European Rail Freight Association (ERFA), Association to improve Railfreight Transportation (Ferrmed), and the European Rail Supply Industry Association (Unife).