ABSTRACT
In the case of rail transport the EC tries to renew the rail as an important mode of transport since it is believed that railways can compete effectively with other modes of transport reducing congestion, environmental pollution and regional imbalances. The development of an efficient multi-modal transport system in Europe could partially achieve some of the central objectives of the EC through improving efficiency, filling the missing links and transferring traffic to less congested and more environmentally friendly modes of transport. At the national level there are considerable new requirements and political appeal for transport infrastructure to tackle the growing menace of congestion. In the aspect of transport where regulation is necessary to have the market within a certain order, the introduction of harmonised legislation is necessary to ensure the orderly function of the market within the great principles of the EC: fair competition, social justice, environmental protection.
