Why is the eFTI Regulation a game-changer?
The freight transport sector is at the heart of the EU single market, ensuring the seamless movement of goods, supporting businesses, and strengthening Europe’s economic resilience and competitiveness. However, traditional paper-based documentation systems are time-consuming, costly, and prone to inefficiencies. As a result, most companies must navigate a hybrid system, combining paper-based processes with digital tools to manage their operations.
With the eFTI Regulation, the EU is moving towards a standardised digital freight ecosystem for Business to Administration processes that are expected to:
- Reduce administrative burdens for businesses and authorities by eliminating paperwork.
- Enhance data security and compliance with EU and national freight transport regulations.
- Facilitate seamless data exchange across transport modes and borders.
- Support real-time decision-making, improving logistical planning and efficiency.
The transition to fully digital transport documentation will strengthen intermodal transport, reduce inefficiencies, and contribute to net-zero logistics by optimizing resource use, minimizing empty runs, and enhancing supply chain transparency for better emissions tracking and reduction.
Implementation timeline: key milestones
- January 2025: EU Member States begin developing IT systems to support eFTI compliance.
- September 2025: The European Commission will finalise technical and functional requirements for IT systems and define the certification process for eFTI platforms and service providers.
- January 2026: eFTI platforms and service providers start preparing for operations, while national authorities may begin accepting digital freight data for inspections.
- 9 July 2027: Full eFTI implementation—Member States must accept digital freight transport data, making paperless logistics a reality across the EU.
The economic and strategic impact
- Estimated cost savings of up to €1 billion per year for the EU transport and logistics sector.
- More efficient logistical planning, improving supply chain predictability and resilience.
- Interoperability between transport networks, enhancing cross-border operations.
- Lower compliance costs for businesses through automated data exchange.
- Contribution to sustainability goals by eliminating paper waste and improving energy efficiency in freight operations.
Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas highlighted that the transition to digital freight transport will not only cut costs but also drive Europe’s leadership in logistics innovation and digital transformation.
Challenges and the road ahead:
- IT System Development: Member States must invest in digital infrastructure to integrate eFTI-compliant IT platforms.
- Certification and Compliance: eFTI platforms and service providers need to undergo certification processes to meet EU standards.
- Cybersecurity and Data Protection: As digital freight data becomes the norm, robust cybersecurity measures will be necessary to protect sensitive transport information.
- Adoption by SMEs: Ensuring small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) can transition smoothly to digital systems will be crucial for widespread implementation.
- A collaborative approach between industry stakeholders, policymakers, and technology providers will be essential to overcoming these challenges and ensuring a smooth transition to eFTI, including compliance by member states and widespread adoption by economic operators.
Shaping the future of European Freight Transport
The eFTI Regulation is a transformative step for the EU logistics and transport industry. By standardising and digitalising freight transport information, the EU is setting a global benchmark for efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness.
What comes next?
- Businesses should start preparing for eFTI adoption and integrate certified digital freight platforms into their operations and take full advantage of platform functionalities that could be leveraged for other Business to Business data exchange processes.
- Member states and European Commission need to invest not only in the technical aspects but also in building value added use cases and capabilities in the sector to adopt, embrace and build upon the eFTI implementation.
- Current CEF projects e.g. eFTI4EU, eFTI4all focussed on supporting pioneering countries in the development of the eFTI platforms and associated ecosystems which is welcome. Broader and wider instruments can lever fast adoption and transition to avoid long-lasting slow adoption that would create hesitation and lack of engagement from economic operators. Programmes and projects need to support pioneering industry platforms to build value upon eFTI to accelerate adoption.
- Policymakers, industry and digital service providers must work together to ensure a seamless transition and maximise the benefits of paperless freight transport. We recognize the work done so far by the Digital Transport and Logistics Forum and we call the European Commission to resource this group properly so the expected impact of €1 billion benefit per year can be realized as soon as possible.
