IRU Commission on Economic Affairs (CAE)

• Study and develop relevant arguments and make recommendations to the competent organs of the IRU with respect to the economic and environmental subjects concerning the transport of passengers and goods by road.

• Supply information to IRU bodies and to IRU Member Associations on economic developments in the road transport sector.
• Elaborate and define – as drafts for the competent bodies – IRU policies on economic issues relating to road transport.
• Provide arguments to support the role of road transport in achieving sustainable development through the IRU 3 “i” strategy: Innovation, Incentives and Infrastructure
• Develop argumentation to promote:
  • the role of road transport in ensuring the mobility of people and goods;
    public awareness of the vital role of road transport in ensuring economic and social development;
  • to shippers, intermediaries and distributors, the advantages of road transport in a globally competitive market;
  • the most efficient and most profitable road transport techniques.
• Monitor and analyse the work of:
  • the World Bank;
  • the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);
  • UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme);
  • the International Transport Forum (ex-ECMT) related to economic and environmental issues;
  • the Inland Transport Committee of the UN Economic Commission for Europe dealing with economic or environmental issues;
  • the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC);
  • the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
  • the International Energy Agency (IEA)
  • international non-governmental organisations (ACEA – European Automobile Manufactures Association, IRF – International Road Federation, etc.) involved in activities related to the work of the Commission.

Working Programme for 2008

• Undertake a study on the internalisation of external costs with a special focus on the comparison between the “cheapest cost avoider principle” and the “polluter pays principle”.
• Analysis the influence of variable and fixed costs developments on the bankruptcies rates in the road transport industry.
• Monitor and analyse the increase in the price of diesel, energy consumption in the road transport sector and the effects of the various fuel taxes (VAT, excise duty, possible CO2 tax).
• Disseminate arguments to influence, the diversification of energy use, namely by highlighting the inappropriate taxation of diesel fuel and its misuse in numerous existing fixed installations where cost-effective reasonably priced alternatives to fossil fuel are available.

2nd Report on Road Transport Best Industry Practices
New BIP Report confirms Road Transport's Sustainable Development achievements

Comparative analysis of energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of road transport and combined transport road/rail
Comparison of energy consumption and CO₂ emmisions in 17 realistic links in Europe.

• Executive Summary