ABSTRACT
The majority of the big countries appear to be becoming increasingly non-specialized, that is to say they have a presence in most branches of industry, which signifies that intra-European trade will increasingly reflect trade within each branch. From the 1970s onwards, three driving forces were of fundamental importance for European ports, and for the port of Rotterdam in particular: first, the rise of the container; second, European integration; and third, the logistics revolution. The trans-European networks are a vital feature for the creation of the Single Market, but also theoretically offer the advantage of reinforcing social and economic cohesion between the richest and poorest regions. The reunification of Germany in the early 1990s constitutes a supplementary factor favourable to European integration through trade. European integration cannot occur by way of increased territorial disorganization. The extent of commercial integration, however, depends heavily on the role of the state.
