ABSTRACT
As the CMTP is a sequence of events that unfold over time, it would be difficult to understand the contemporary developments without considering how the specific EU policy has evolved. This chapter examines the progress of the CMTP, the changes of its nature, scope, and objectives within a historical perspective. Although the beginning of this policy is traced to 1974, the analysis looks back to the developments in the field of transport since the beginning of the European integration. This is because developments concerning the maritime mode are part of an integral Common Transport Policy (CTP). The latter is a matter of bringing out the comparative advantages of each transport technique and each mode of transport, and putting them to the best possible use. It is valuable, therefore, to analyse special aspects or specific parts and modes without loosing sight of the overall view of the transport sector. The next sections provide more than a mere descriptive survey of the main policy developments. The focus is on the interaction and influence of policy actors on the progress of the CMTP, therefore, integrated in the analysis is a discussion of how scholars have assessed the impact of these actors during this evolutionary process.
