Delivering the Goods

The term ‘sensitive areas’ is frequently used in the European transport policy debate but there is still a lack of clarity and a number of misconceptions and uncertainties faced by stake- holders working on the topic.

Although it is widely recognised that sensitive areas deserve protection, stakeholders and decision makers are not always consistent in their approach to the issue. For example, representatives of sensitive areas don’t always apply consistent and non-discrim- inatory instruments to protect areas under threat. The result is that, in certain cases, emissions from foreign trucks are effectively deemed to be worse than those from domestic trucks! Similarly, many decision makers from outside of sensitive areas acknowledge the need for protection but, at the same time, insist on the free movement of goods. There is clearly a lack of infor- mation and, perhaps, a lack of mutual understanding.

This publication has been produced for European and national decision makers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and aims to aid understanding of the issue, and inform debate about the way forward.