THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS IN EUROPE

Abstract

The completion of the Single European Market and the opening of eastern Europe present new possibilities for the countries of the European Community. At the same time these countries are facing the same socioeconomic developments as other countries in the world such as the globalisation of the economy, the emerging information society, the deepening gap between North and South and the growing risks for the global climate. Before this background, transport and communications play an important role in shaping the future of Europe.
The paper reports on three scenario writing projects conducted under the auspices of the European Science Foundation and for the Commission of the European Communities. In the three projects, scenarios were developed for transport and communications in general, for the future of cities, and for the regional impacts of the Channel Tunnel and its related infrastructure.