The international perspective: problems and opportunities29 February 2012

Brussels, BelgiumPresented by Mr John Gilbert

President Eurolines Organisation

What is Eurolines?• The No1 Express Coach operator across Europe

• Pan European coach network covering 33 countries in Europe over 600 key destinations

• Including over 100 major cities within the EU

• Providing international transport to 4 million customers annually

• Operating over 110 million kilometers

• Operating 500 coaches daily

• Cost effective way to travel across Europe

“A growing business on short to medium distances”

Network Map – Our 600 Destinations

Coach Travel in Europe

• Growing transport mode

• Environmental, safe, flexible

• Cost-effective solutions

• Fastest way to improve interconnectivity

PASSENGER ACCESS

InfrastructureInfrastructure

•Smaller need than for air and rail transport

•Interconnectivity is key

•Local solutions

What do good Public Terminals provide?

• Easy access

• Easier access for PRMs

• In general safer environment

• Interchange with other travel modes

• Increase usage of coaches

Public Coach Terminals

Some good examples

• Stockholm

• London

• Madrid

• Munich

• Hamburg

• Lyon

• Budapest

Public Coach Terminals

Some not so good examples

• Paris

• Amsterdam

• Brussels

• Copenhagen

• Nice

• Vienna

• Bordeaux

What Eurolines is doing

We need to:

• Provide better access for all, including PRMs

• Create easy access terminal facilities

• Create and improve transport interchanges with the use of TEN-T programmes

• Prepare for modal shift from air to surface travel

• Cater for increased mobility across Europe

CROSS-BORDER CONTROLS FOR COACH SERVICES

Cumbersome Controls

• Repeated border controls despite Schengen

• Delays range between 30 min – 1 hour

• Discriminatory against Eurolines

- Strong brand identity and regularity

- Inequalities against air & train operators

Facilitating cross-border travelling

The aim:

•Create efficient joined up police controls

•Deliver high-quality passenger experience

Eurolines works actively to solve the problem:

•Cooperating with national authorities

•Staff trainings for identifying documents

•European responsibility needs European solution

COMPETITION: VAT AND CABOTAGE ISSUES

Competition - VAT in European Countries

The problem:

•Diverging VAT calculations in different countries

•International coach services pay VAT on services & sales

•Air operators VAT exemption on fuel and ticket sales

•Unlevelled playing field between transport modes

Cabotage in the French market

• Cabotage is a victory for European passengers

• Cabotage in line with increased competitiveness

• Hindered by protectionism by Public actors in the transport field

Eurolines calls for:

• A common approach to VAT calculations in Member States

• Creation of a level playing field for transport

• Cabotage in France must not be erased by protectionist policies

CONCLUSIONS:

• Coach access to good quality city terminals

• Coach passengers can enjoy full freedom of movement in Schengen

• Levell playing field for VAT uptake for transport modes

• Cabotage defended in France and offered in other member states where regular line services are currently prohibited.

Working Together to

Make Travel Simple

Across all Modes

This has to be the EU transport objective for the future..