2025 FIATA-Region Europe Field Meeting Special!
2025 FIATA REU Field Meeting in Prague: Adapting to Change, Driving Innovation
The 2025 FIATA-Region Europe (REU) Field Meeting took place in Prague, 3-4 September 2025, proudly hosted by the Association of Forwarding and Logistics of the Czech Republic (SSL), Czech Republic. Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) was one of the 16 FIATA founding members. This inaugural FIATA-REU Field Meeting on Czech soil marks a meaningful milestone for the region and the global freight forwarding community.
The opening session featured an introduction by Martin Kupka, Vice-Premier and Transport Minister of the Czech Republic, who emphasised the strategic role of transport and logistics for the territory and the region. Kupka highlighted the significant investment and progress made by the Czech Republic in infrastructure, especially in rail freight that is supporting the growth of multimodal transportation. He also noted that the event will enable new connections to foster development in the region. The session also celebrated the presence of young logistics students and professionals, highlighting FIATA’s commitment to nurturing future talent.
Kupka was joined by FIATA President, Turgut Erkeskin, who underscored the importance of digitalisation, sustainability, and multimodal integration in strengthening Europe’s role as a logistics hub. “Digitalisation is not about replacing people, but about empowering them. It is about using data and technology to give better visibility, greater efficiency, and stronger security in supply chains,” he noted.
Additional remarks were provided by Vít Votroubek, President of SSL, and Antonella Straulino, Chair of FIATA Region Europe, highlighting policy dialogue with national transport authorities and Prague’s central role in European logistics. The session was moderated by Petr Rožek, SSL Executive Director and FIATA Working Group Road Chair and set the stage for rich exchanges of ideas and collaboration across the region.
FIATA President and Director General were honoured to welcome CLECAT President, Mr Dimitri Serafimoff, as a VIP participant.
Intermodal Transport: Navigating the Global Economy
From left to right: Zdeněk Dušek, Partner at Ernst & Young, Paula Baena, Global Policy Lead, International Chamber of Commerce; Turgut Erkeskin, FIATA President; and Martin Hubenak, Port Representative Central & Eastern Europe at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
The first panel at the 2025 FIATA-REU Field Meeting examined the forces reshaping the transport industry and the role of intermodality in driving resilience and growth.
The session, Global Economic Outlook and Impacts on Regional Transport Developments – Unlocking Growth through Intermodality, featured Turgut Erkeskin, FIATA President; Zdeněk Dušek, Partner at Ernst & Young; Paula Baena, Global Policy Lead at the International Chamber of Commerce; and Martin Hubenak, Port Representative Central & Eastern Europe at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Discussions underscored how globalisation, once centred on having everything delivered at the right time, is entering a new phase marked by risk mitigation and the need to adapt to volatile economic, political and geopolitical realities. The panel examined the disruptions impacting supply chains, the growing importance of nearshoring and friendshoring, and the need for freight forwarders to constantly design new services and alternative routes to meet evolving client demands.
Speakers agreed that flexible, multimodal and interoperable transport solutions are key to navigating this transition. Factors such as digitalisation, sustainability, and real-time monitoring were highlighted as cornerstones of resilience. To unlock the full potential of multimodality and reduce fragmentation, panellists pointed to the need for targeted investment, greater regulatory standardisation, harmonised customs procedures, and clear digitalisation pathways.
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)’s finalisation of the Negotiable Cargo Documents (NCD) Convention, supported by FIATA, was highlighted as a major step towards strengthening the legal framework for multimodal transport and digital trade. The session also stressed the importance of strong public–private partnerships, with FIATA’s collaboration with the Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG) cited as an example of effective public-private cooperation to advance practical solutions.
Advancing Regional Transport: Intermodal Best Practices
From left to right: Petr Rožek, Executive Director of SSL and Chair of FIATA’s Working Group Road; Josef Polák, Director of Operations at MEDLOG Transport & Logistics; Martin Koubek, Director Silk Road and CIS at METRANS Group; John Bölts, Chief of Transport Division of DTIHK, a. hartrodt; and David Vrtiska, Managing Director at Bohemiakombi.
The second panel focused on advancing Europe’s transport potential through global best practices in intermodal integration.
The session, Advancing Regional Transport Potential – Global Best Practices for Seamless Intermodal Transport, brought together Josef Polák, Director of Operations at MEDLOG Transport & Logistics; Martin Koubek, Director Silk Road and CIS at METRANS Group; John Bölts, Chief of Transport Division of DTIHK, a. hartrodt; David Vrtiska, Managing Director at Bohemiakombi; and the session was moderated by Petr Rožek, Executive Director of SSL and Chair of FIATA’s Working Group Road.
Speakers explored the current state of intermodal transport in Europe, highlighting both its potential and persistent barriers. Despite its environmental advantages, intermodal transport remains underdeveloped in regions such as the Czech Republic due to limited terminal infrastructure, lack of rail capacity, and competition with passenger services. Fragmented national systems and insufficient cross-border collaboration, particularly with Germany, further hinder progress. Road transport continues to dominate thanks to its flexibility and cost advantages, while rail is constrained by unpredictability and outdated infrastructure.
The panel emphasised that freight forwarders are uniquely positioned to optimise road, rail, and maritime links and deliver smarter logistics solutions to meet growing demand. Panellists stressed the need for harmonised standards, smarter public investment, and digital platforms to enable true synchro-modality, where customers can select services based on time and cost rather than mode. Intermodal success depends on identifying suitable cargo flows, strengthening tracking systems, and preparing for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-driven reporting. The future lies in increasing flexibility, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering greater cooperation between operators and governments to unlock the full potential of multimodal logistics.
Greener Freight: Waterways in Multimodal Logistics
From left to right: Jochem Sprenger, General Secretary of the Netherlands Association for Forwarding and Logistics (Fenex); Mehmet Yavuz Kankavi, Managing Director of Bertan Logistics; Cédric Virciglio, Strategic Planning and Forecasting Director in charge of International and European Affairs at HAROPA PORT; Vuk Perovic, Director at the AUL Port Governance Agency; and Jan Vlček, CEO of Logison.
Sustainability and multimodality were at the centre of the third panel discussion at the 2025 FIATA-Region Europe Field Meeting.
The session, Greener Freight Future and the Role of Waterways in Multimodal Logistics Systems, featured Mehmet Yavuz Kankavi, Managing Director of Bertan Logistics; Cédric Virciglio, Strategic Planning and Forecasting Director at HAROPA PORT; Vuk Perovic, Director at the AUL Port Governance Agency; Jan Vlček, CEO of Logison; and the session was moderated by Jochem Sprenger, General Secretary of Netherlands Association for Forwarding and Logistics (Fenex).
Discussions highlighted the potential of the Danube, Rhine, and other European waterways to advance the European Union’s Green Deal objectives, with targets of cutting emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Panellists underlined the comparative advantages of waterborne transport, capable of removing hundreds of trucks from the roads through single-vessel capacity, and stressed the importance of well-connected intermodal terminals to unlock this potential. Inland waterways currently account for just 1.3–3.5% of overall freight transport in Europe, though their share is significantly higher in certain countries, reaching around 40% in the Netherlands and 20% in Romania. HAROPA PORT’s Cédric Virciglio shared concrete examples from Paris, where companies such as IKEA and Franprix already use waterways for e-commerce deliveries, supported by zero-emission storage and electric trucks.
Speakers also pointed to the role of national and regional strategies, from the Danube framework to investments in HAROPA PORT’s tri-port system, in aligning infrastructure with Europe’s sustainability ambitions. Case studies illustrated how inland waterways offer competitive alternatives, whether linking Constanța to Rotterdam or integrating ports across landlocked states.
The panel concluded that unlocking the potential of inland waterways requires investment, regulatory harmonisation, and targeted incentives to encourage freight forwarders to adopt greener options. With road transport still carrying 80% of Europe’s freight flows, a mindset shift and stronger public–private cooperation were seen as essential to rebalance the modal share and establish waterways as a central pillar of Europe’s sustainable logistics future.
Regulatory Challenges in Europe and Beyond
From left to right: Jaroslav Kuba, Chair of the Working Group for IT/IP Law and Alice Kubová Bártková, Lawyer, Rödl & Partner.
Day 2 opened with a keynote address Legal Outlook: Regulatory Challenges Globally and in Europe shedding light on the pressing regulatory challenges impacting the freight forwarding industry both globally and in Europe.
The session, Legal Outlook: Regulatory Challenges Globally and in Europe, featured Ms Kubová Bartková of Rödl & Partner, and Mr Jaroslav Kuba, Chair of the Working Group for IT/IP Law. Together, they offered insights into the evolving legal framework that shapes the daily operations of freight forwarders.
Ms Bartková focused on liabilities in cases of cargo loss, underlining the critical importance of clarity in contracts and risk management strategies for industry players. Mr Kuba addressed the growing significance of artificial intelligence (AI), speaking on regulatory approaches and the implications of AI usage in logistics and transport. His remarks highlighted both the opportunities AI can bring in terms of efficiency and visibility, and the compliance challenges it presents.
The keynote reinforced the need for freight forwarders to remain proactive, informed, and adaptable as legal frameworks continue to evolve alongside technological and market developments.
Border Efficiency and the Role of Digital Systems
From left to right: Tomas Arvidsson, FIATA REU Vice-Chair; Karolína Zámečníková, Czech Republic Customs Administration; Andrew Farelly, CEO and Co-Founder, CT Strategies; and Dimitri Serafimoff, President of European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT).
The fourth session Regional Connectivity and Smarter Border Controls – Enabling a Seamless Flow of Goods in Europe addressed border efficiency as a critical enabler of seamless freight movement, exploring how digital solutions and collaborative frameworks can improve cross-border trade.
The panel, moderated by Tomas Arvidsson, FIATA REU Vice-Chair, featured Karolína Zámečníková of the Czech Republic Customs Administration; Andrew Farelly, CEO and Co-Founder of CT Strategies; and Dimitri Serafimoff, President of European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT).
Speakers examined how digital cargo systems, data interoperability, and trusted trade frameworks can enhance performance at borders while ensuring compliance and security. They also underlined the need for customs systems to adapt to new realities such as the rapid growth of e-commerce, exemplified by Alibaba’s hub in Liège, while balancing the complexities of business-to-business and business-to-consumer flows.
Examples included the Czech Customs Administration’s Shield Europe Partnership, which promotes direct and constructive engagement with companies handling sensitive exports to clarify requirements in a non-punitive way. Discussions also covered the European Union’s ongoing customs reform, which aims to create a single data hub to reduce duplication and streamline stakeholder access, though concerns remain over the lack of impact assessments and uneven implementation across member states. Initiatives such as Import Control System 2 (ICS2) and the European Common Transit System (ECTS) were highlighted as pathways to interoperability, yet their inconsistent rollout continues to undermine a level playing field, particularly for road and rail. CLECAT also pointed to fragmentation in value-added tax and Union Status rules, reinforcing the need for harmonisation.
The panel stressed that customs reform must be realistic for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with freight forwarders—who handle 85% of declarations in France—playing a vital role in ensuring efficiency and compliance. Trusted trader schemes such as the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme should be accessible and tiered to avoid excluding smaller actors, serving as the foundation of a partnership-based relationship between business and authorities rather than a burden. Speakers concluded that competitiveness will depend on greater regulatory alignment, investment in digital infrastructure, and open, consultative governance where technology, human interaction, and mutual trust go hand in hand to reduce delays and strengthen resilience.
Transforming Road Freight Through Technology and Innovation
From left to right: Mark Bromley, FIATA Multimodal Transport Institute (MTI) Chair, featured Mr Cédric Oelhafen, Associate Director, Information Systems/Information Technology, International Road Transport Union (IRU); Petr Rožek, SSL Executive Director and FIATA Working Group Road Chair; and Alessandro Barbiero, CEO at BARBIERO.
The fifth panel Working Group Road: Transforming Road Freight through Technology and Innovation explored how technology and innovation are transforming road freight, addressing inefficiencies, reducing costs, and enhancing supply chain resilience.
The panel, moderated by Mark Bromley, FIATA Multimodal Transport Institute (MTI) Chair, featured Mr Cédric Oelhafen, Associate Director, Information Systems/Information Technology, International Road Transport Union (IRU); Petr Rožek, SSL Executive Director and FIATA Working Group Road Chair; and Alessandro Barbiero, CEO at BARBIERO.
Speakers highlighted the central role of road transport in supporting time-sensitive logistics and examined the evolution of digitalisation, with a particular focus on the electronic consignment note (eCMR). Although the CMR Convention underpins around 280 million paper documents daily, fewer than 1% have transitioned to digital form. The eCMR protocol, now active across 58 contracting parties, offers clear advantages in reducing costs, streamlining communication, and improving efficiency, yet adoption remains slow due to legal uncertainties, technical gaps, and limited interoperability.
Cédric Oelhafen provided updates on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Group of Experts on the Operationalisation of eCMR, which is developing technical specifications and certification mechanisms to build trust and ensure interoperability. Business-to-business (B2B) data exchange should be managed by the private sector, business-to-administration (B2A) by the public sector, while customs-specific requirements will be handled outside the CMR Convention. A proof-of-concept is expected by early next year, with full European acceptance anticipated by 2027 under the electronic Freight Transport Information (eFTI) regulation.
Pilot projects, including Italy’s 2022 trial and company-led initiatives such as Skoda’s, illustrated both the potential and the practical challenges of adoption, from language barriers and groupage complexities to user unfamiliarity. Speakers stressed that eCMR is not a title document and cannot be mandated by authorities, but that voluntary uptake will be driven by its practical benefits. Updating the CMR Convention to align with digital practices was also seen as critical.
The discussion further examined broader digitalisation trends, including the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in logistics for predictive maintenance, route optimisation, and large-scale data processing. AI can reduce repetitive, time-consuming tasks, enabling staff to focus on strategic, value-adding activities. Speakers concluded that advancing eCMR, embracing AI, and fostering interoperability are essential steps towards reducing operational burdens, improving cargo flows, and strengthening the resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of European road freight and supply chains more broadly.
Enhancing Air Connectivity in the Era of Multimodal Logistics
From left to right: Ana Camacho Soares, Regional Manager at the Freight Forwarders Association of Portugal; Andrea Schoen, Programme Director at Smart Freight Centre; Jindrich Zeman, Cargo Development Manager at Airport Prague; and Markus Muecke, Managing Director, Im3pact AG.
The sixth panel explored the critical role of air transport in time-sensitive logistics and its integration within multimodal supply chains.
The session, Enhancing Air Connectivity in the Era of Multimodal Logistics, was moderated by Ana Camacho Soares, Regional Manager at the Freight Forwarders Association of Portugal; Andrea Schoen, Programme Director at Smart Freight Centre; Jindrich Zeman, Cargo Development Manager at Airport Prague; and Markus Muecke, Managing Director, Im3pact AG.
Speakers discussed optimising air connectivity, capacity, and cargo turnaround times, with e-commerce shifting competition from cost to speed while raising environmental concerns. The panel highlighted the importance of Unit Load Device (ULD) optimisation, smarter palletisation, and closer collaboration between freight forwarders and ground handlers to reduce delays and repair costs. Digital platforms were noted as key to improving airport flows, though ground handling remains a bottleneck.
Sustainability and safety were central themes, with calls for carbon accounting, decarbonisation investments, and shared responsibility between shippers and forwarders. FIATA and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are working to strengthen cargo standards, while regulatory changes such as the end of de minimis thresholds are expected to affect volumes and compliance.
The panel concluded that air transport is essential to resilient and sustainable supply chains, with coordinated investment, digitalisation, and cross-modal collaboration crucial to unlocking its full potential in Europe and beyond.
The Official FIATA Region Europe Meeting
Delegates of the FIATA Region Europe Body recognised FIATA’s full consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a significant achievement, highlighting the Federation's strengthened influence on global shipping policy. The session also emphasised the importance of the Negotiable Cargo Document (NCD) in supporting the adoption of the electronic FIATA Bill of Lading (eFBL). Region Europe was highlighted as a leader in eFBL usage, with multiple associations having signed licensing agreements that allow their members to issue and manage eFBLs.
Gathering of FIATA Region Europe Association Member Presidents
Some of the participants of the high-level closed meeting.
The high-level closed meeting of FIATA Association Member Presidents provided a forum for European association leaders to discuss strategic priorities, operational challenges, and opportunities for greater collaboration. Discussions focused on strengthening member engagement, advancing digitalisation, and adapting to regulatory changes affecting the freight forwarding sector. Participants reflected on lessons from the inaugural FIATA-REU Field Meeting, noting opportunities to further enhance the experience, such as keeping costs accessible, fine-tuning the schedule, and increasing the speed of media availability after the event. These improvements are being incorporated into the planning of next year’s meeting in Romania.
The meeting emphasised the importance of Association Members actively promoting FIATA’s work, encouraging direct membership, and supporting unified standards, including the adoption of the electronic negotiable FIATA Multimodal Transport Bill of Lading (eFBL). Leaders also addressed key sector issues such as insurance costs, market conservatism, and outreach to shippers.
Association Member Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to collective action and continuous improvement, unanimously recognising the value of the FIATA Regional Field Meeting format for all regions. They highlighted FIATA’s unique focus on business and operational matters, distinguishing it from other organisations that concentrate primarily on policy.
A Milestone Event for Region Europe
FIATA warmly thanks the Association of Forwarding and Logistics of the Czech Republic (SSL) for their exceptional organisation and hospitality, which ensured the smooth running and success of the FIATA-REU Field Meeting. The event not only provided valuable insights through dynamic panels and discussions, but also fostered meaningful exchanges among freight forwarding professionals across the region. By bringing together industry leaders and policymakers, the meeting reinforced the importance of collective dialogue in addressing challenges, seizing opportunities, and advancing the logistics sector in Europe and beyond.
Upcoming FIATA Events
- 2025 FIATA World Congress, Hanoi, Vietnam: 6-10 October
- 2025 FIATA-RAMs Field Meeting, Cartagena, Colombia: 3-5 December
- 2026 FIATA HQ Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland: 30 March - 2 April