25 August 2021
The European commission has adopted a Communications on the results of the Marco Polo Programme for the 2003-2013 period.
The Marco Polo programme finance commercial projects that stimulate competitiveness of combined transport as against exclusively road transport. In the next programming period (2014-2020), it will be replaced by the Connecting Europe Facility.
From 2003 to 2012, 172 grants have been awarded providing financial aid to over 650 companies. The Communication also presents the Commission’s intentions with regard to the next steps beyond the current multiannual financial framework. Marco Polo is the only EU funding instrument supporting actions in the freight transport, logistics and other relevant markets. Its support was geared in particular towards shifting freight from the road to short sea shipping, rail, inland waterways or a combination of modes of transport; overcoming structural market barriers in European freight transport; developing innovative motorways of the Sea actions for large-volume and high frequency transport services; developing traffic avoidance actions, which reduce freight transport demand by road with a direct impact on emissions; and promoting common learning actions to encourage cooperation and sharing of know-how in the freight logistics sector.
To consult the communication of the Commission, click here