Research for TRAN Committee: The new Silk Route - opportunities and challenges for EU transport (briefing)

Briefing 16-01-2018

This briefing summarises the conclusions of a study on ‘The new Silk Route - opportunities and challenges for EU transport’ prepared by an international team of researchers for the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament. This study analyses in detail the Chinese Silk Route Initiative and investigates its possible impacts and prospects for the EU transport system. The emphasis in the research is also put on exploring the European transport system’s readiness for the Initiative and identification of potential bottlenecks and missing links. Furthermore, the study evaluates the need for implementation of additional measures at EU level in other to make the most of the Initiative and also to ensure fair competition in the transport, logistic and construction sectors in the context of expanding activity by Chinese operators. A comprehensive list presenting the involvement of all Member States in the Initiative constitutes an integral part of the study.