Monday, June 15th, 2026
On 3 June 2026, Fernando Liesa, Secretary General of ALICE, participated in the panel discussion “European Policies and Innovation: Key Logistics Decisions for Resilient Companies” during SIL Barcelona 2026. Together with representatives from ALIA and Zaragoza Logistics Center, the discussion explored how logistics companies can strengthen resilience in a rapidly evolving business and market is fast transforming shaped by policy, societal, environmental needs and technology developments.
During SIL 2026, Fernando also participated in an interview with SET TV, the event’s media channel, where he shared his perspectives on the main challenges facing the logistics sector and the role of innovation and collaboration in transforming challenges in opportunities and anchoring competitiveness and resilience anticipating European policiesimpacts. The interview will be made available through ALICE communication channels once published.
The first part of the discussion focused on the impact of European policies on logistics operations and investment decisions.
Fernando highlighted that many of the measures and legislative initiatives emerging from the European Green Deal are no longer future ambitions but are already being implemented. These measures are progressively shaping market conditions and increasing pressure across the logistics ecosystem to decarbonise operations and accelerate the transition towards renewable energy.
The impact is becoming increasingly visible through higher costs associated with fossil fuel use and growing incentives for zero-emission transport solutions. As a result, logistics companies are facing a new competitive landscape where sustainability and operational efficiency are becoming closely linked. Fernando highlighted that those companies pioneering and embracing decarbonization objectives and innovation, e.g. integrating electric trucks are having quickly gains and market strength linked to geopolitical developments in middle east.
Digitalisation is advancing in parallel. The Electronic Freight Transport Information (eFTI) Regulation is now in place and will begin applying from mid 2027, creating a common framework for the digital exchange of freight transport information across Europe. In Spain, additional momentum is being created through the Sustainable Mobility Law and other initiatives aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of transport and logistics, still the readiness of the sector and administration to embrace this transition so fast is putting a lot of pressure in the system.
Fernando stressed that these developments are driven not only by policy. Increasingly, shippers and transport users are demanding greener, more transparent and more efficient logistics services. The green and digital transitions are therefore becoming both a regulatory requirement and a business demand creating a business opportunity for innovators.
The second part of the discussion explored how Europe can strengthen competitiveness while accelerating innovation.
Fernando noted that the European debate has evolved from focusing primarily on the “Green” towards increasing attention on the “deal” itself: ensuring that the transition strengthens industrial competitiveness and creates value for businesses.
This perspective is expected to shape future European funding instruments, including the next European Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2035) and future research and innovation programmes. The objective is not only to support technological development but also to address the broader conditions required for innovation to generate impact.
According to Fernando, future programmes will place greater emphasis on:
This pragmatic approach aims to bridge the gap between research, demonstration and large-scale implementation, ensuring that innovation delivers tangible benefits for logistics operators and supply chains and enables the twin transition.
ALICE is at the core of that discussion and invites logistics stakeholders to explore the framework and opportunities ahead.
The final discussion block focused on resilience and the role of technology and collaboration in helping companies prepare for uncertainty.
Fernando emphasised that logistics companies already have access to a growing range of technologies capable of improving resilience. Artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and digital platforms can help organisations increase visibility across supply networks, identify inefficiencies, forecast disruptions and support decision-making.
Many disruptions, he argued, are not entirely unpredictable. Better access to information and stronger analytical capabilities can help organisations anticipate risks before they become operational problems.
For freight transport, resilience also requires reducing dependence on individual routes, transport modes or actors. Fernando highlighted the importance of multimodality and synchromodality as tools to increase flexibility and adaptability across logistics networks.
In this context, he presented ALICE activities supporting collaborative logistics solutions, including the IKIGAI project and ALICE EXPRESS. These initiatives work with shippers and multimodal operators to develop common processes, protocols and frameworks that facilitate the creation of new multimodal corridors aligned with the Physical Internet vision.
Fernando also pointed to the transition towards zero-emission road freight as one of the most significant market disruptions facing the sector. While Spain represents more than 10% of the European heavy-duty truck market, electric trucks account for only around 1-2% of sales in this segment. Bridging this gap will be essential for maintaining competitiveness of the sector.
In his concluding remarks, Fernando encouraged participants to broaden their perspective beyond their immediate supply chains and daily operations.
Companies that closely monitor developments in policy, research and innovation, as well as trends emerging in other regions of the world, are better positioned to anticipate change and prepare for future challenges. Understanding these external drivers is becoming increasingly important as regulation, technology and market expectations continue to reshape the logistics landscape.
This, Fernando concluded, is one of the key roles of collaborative networks such as ALIA and ALICE: helping companies understand emerging trends, connect with policy, technology development, innovation ecosystems and funding support to prepare for the future of logistics.
During SIL 2026, Fernando Liesa also recorded an interview with SET TV discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the logistics sector, the role of European policies, and the importance of innovation and collaboration in building resilient supply chains. A link to the interview will be added to this article once it becomes available.