The European transport system currently has a serious problem because the variable growths of the different transport modes. The congestion phenomena in some regions and corridors, which appeared at the end of the 20th century, are a real threat for the economic competitiveness. The definition of a common transport policy that allows combining a high economical growth with a sustainable transport system from an economic, social and environmental point of view, is one of the most important concerns for decision makers both at a national and European level.

Despite the important implications that the development of a new transport system has on the social welfare, the European Union and its Member States lack adequate statistical tools that can simulate the effects which can be derived from different possible actions and therefore, to allow the most efficient to be selected.

This project is developed by the Institute of International Economics of the University of Valencia and the Valencia Port Foundation. It is inside a framework in which solid, complete comparable and reliable sources are provided. This framework is a fundamental tool both for the planning and for the launch of common transport policies. In this specific case, they are related to freight goods transport. The determination of the objectives that these policies are willing to reach and the means to attain them requires a huge quantity of precise data (quantitative and qualitative).