The signatories of this Statement representing the railway, inland waterway, maritime and intermodal sectors, welcome the Political Agenda presented by the Commission’s President and translated into the mission letters of the College of Commissioners. We particularly welcome the need to enhance Europe’s competitiveness through a clean industry and through strengthening the single market, while pursuing the objectives and goals set in place to promote increased energy efficiency and lower dependence of the EU on imported fossil fuels. We also welcome the aim to enhance the resilience of the EU in light of the external threats, ranging from geopolitical to those rooted in climate change. Proposals to improve the performance of freight transport in Europe require a holistic approach and need to consider the important objectives and standards that modern societies pursue, ranging from safety standards, social standards, energy efficiency, resilience and the transformation to a low carbon economy. Combined Transport has the unique, proven capability of contributing to all of these objectives, while advancing the EU’s competitiveness at the same time. (....)