Summary of the analysis of the national logistic strategies in the V4 countries Lajos Veres PhD. Chairman Scientific Association for Spatial Development Source: Attila Korompai (author of the part of study) Comparative analysis of the logistic performance of the V4 countries The logistic performance of the V4 countries will be compared by using the LPI values (overall). The values of LPI and its components for the V4 countries are presented in the star diagrams below based on available data of the World Bank for the years 2007, 2010, 2012 and Source: World Bank The average logistics performance path of the V4 countries shows an increase from 2007 till 2010, but by 2012 there was a slight decrease. After 2012 the average LPI index has increased again. The dominant values in this path were connected to the Czech and Polish logistics. The path was similar for the Slovak Republic but at a lower level. The Hungarian path was different, because after 2007 there was a strong decrease till 2010 but after that the path showed a continuous growth, and by 2014 the values of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland were quite close to each other. The lowest values were presented by Slovakia. Source: World Bank The overall LPI rank of V4 countries Infrastructure Based on the infrastructure scores, the Czech Republic had the best values in 2010 and 2014, the second one in 2007, but interestingly was ranked last in This was the year when Poland jumped to the second best place while in other years it was positioned near the last place with Slovakia. Hungary was on the top in 2007 and 2012, in other years it was around the V4 average value. Regarding the infrastructure, the international position of the Czech Republic has not changed (36) and that of Poland and Slovakia has not improved significantly. It was only Hungary among the V4 countries, whose position was stagnating. Source: World Bank The infrastructure LPI scores of V4 countries Timeliness Timeliness is a crucial component of the reliability and quality of logistics services. Despite some decrease, the highest values among the V4 countries are still connected to Poland. Source: World Bank Timeliness LPI scores of V4 countries Similarly to some other LPI scores, Hungarys score in timeliness decreased from the best value to the worst one, followed by a gradual increase approaching the top value by Slovakia continuously improves its value from the lowest to around the average of the V4 countries. The evaluation of the Czech timeliness shows individual tendencies in relation to its other LPI components. While in 2010 the country received the second best value, after a continuous decrease its value in 2014 was the lowest of the V4 countries. In each year the best position in timeliness among the V4 countries was achieved by Poland, with the exception of 2007 when Hungary preceded by 6 places. In international comparison, Poland was ranked 2nd in 2010, and 15th in Source: World Bank The timeliness LPI rank of V4 countries Overall LPI scores and rank values of the V4 neighboring countries in 2014 Source: World Bank Common approaches to logistics and transport in the country strategies Each strategy emphasizes the long-term strategic importance of logistics and transport for the national economies and social wellbeing. The contribution to the national economic growth and to the increase of social wellbeing is organic part of the general objectives of each transport and logistics strategy. Common requirement is the close connection to the national (macro level) and European development programs and strategies. Each strategy was elaborated on governmental initiation and contribution with the participation of various business and NGO organizations. The development along the Trans-European transport corridors to meet the high quality requirements is emphasized in each strategy. On the other side the strategies strongly concentrate on internal transport and logistics. In the national level it is considered necessary to improve connections between the regional centres and the major cities in Europe, and to consolidate internal territorial cohesion, through the improvement of transportation both between the main centres of the country and smaller subregions. The international relations receive attention in most cases in connection with the development of border stations particularly at the Eastern borders. The system of objectives includes in each strategy (directly or indirectly on various levels): the integrated development of a modern and coherent transport and logistics system, the creation of favorable conditions for the smooth functioning of the transport market, and increasing the sectors competitiveness. increasing the efficiency and the quality of services and operation, improving the safety and reliability, developing opportunities for multi-modal connections, and multimodal logistic centers, development and integration of urban transport systems on regional and local levels, with the inclusion of rural areas, developing the infrastructure for high speed interurban connections, rational financing solutions. Opportunities of co-operation between the V4 countries for transport and logistics development The integrated development of the transport systems of individual V4 countries should be realized in harmony not only within the V4 community but it is a requirement on the level of the EU in the frame of the European transport and logistic systems. There are many aspects of this co-ordination from which several important points are listed below: o co-ordination of development along the Trans-European transit corridors on the roads, railways, water- and air transport, different energy networks both in the development of the linear and the nodal components, as well as the technological aspects, o the development of high-speed transport opportunities between national and regional centers in international perspective, o the co-ordination of the development and configuration of safety systems both for various transport braches and logistics, o in harmony with the EU processes the elaboration of common standardization principles for transport and logistics to improve efficiency and quality of services, as well as to promote innovation processes, o while there is a competition between the V4 countries in the field of transit in EastWest relations, the co-operation and co- ordination either in the development of transit network, or in the distribution of transport could increase the efficiency and reliability, o the co-operation in the development of multimodal logistic centers to improve modal split utilization opportunities, o within the EU regulation a V4 level regional co-ordination of regulation systems for transport and logistics, o special field of opportunity to co-operate in education for transport and logistics sector that is included in several development strategies, o co-ordination of industrial policies from the aspect of the transport and logistics sector (particularly production of transport means, energy policy, information technologies and software development etc.), o co-operation and co-ordination for decreasing environmental risk and impact of the transport and logistics sector, o particular attention has to be given to the impact of climate change in the transport and logistics sector in this aspect radical change may take place in the role of the ports in Poland for the V4 countries, because they may increase owing to the opening Nordic/polar passage on the sea, o comparative studies to investigate the social impact of transport and logistics, o establishing and operating efficient financial funds and systems for transport and logistics sector development in co-operation with various European funds, o establishing and operating a V4 level body or institution for continuous monitoring and to promote co-operation in transport and logistics development. Policy recommendations For the sake of efficient concentration of resources the ranking of tasks and the appropriate selection for realisation of projects are necessary. Two evaluation criteria have to be balanced in the frame of this process: priority should be given to eliminate the narrow sections or to those investments which have the largest multiplicative impact. This balance is different either for individual countries or for various branches, or for various LPI components. Therefore the body of national experts have to come to an agreement by keeping the efficiency and interest of the V4 community in view. One of the first steps should be the clarification and co- ordination of the mutually accepted terminological system. This may be connected to the development of the co-ordinated vocational education in this field. Particular attention has to be devoted to strengthening the V4 aspects of network components in the development strategies. Priorities have to be given to the co-ordinated development of north-south transport lines and border crossing points, co- ordination of developing the safety systems, standardisation and shipment organisation as well as the application of information technologies. To preserve or improve competitiveness of the V4 countries the values gained in other LPI components of individual countries have to be maintained or rather by their further development or modernization stepping forward in ranking. Both for development of the transport and logistics and for the development of international co-operation in economic and environmental issues particular attention has to be devoted to the utilization of industrial multiplicative impacts of the transport and logistics, especially in the field of research and development (i.e. the innovation policy). Suggestions for the next continuing phase of the project The most urgent and most relevant work for a next project could be the clarification and co-ordination of a common terminology. In the frame of the present project the first steps were necessary to take, but just this problem has raised the idea to make a systematic work on this topic. Based on the results of this analysis of the national strategies the evaluation and selection of those possible development project proposals which may contribute most effectively to the increased competitiveness of the operation of transport and logistics on the territories of the V4 countries. This meets with the EU development policies. The elaboration of a mutually acceptable training program for various level of education. Studying the environmental and social impact of transport and logistics development on the V4 co- operation and its perspectives. Analyzing the industrial multiplicative impact of the transport and logistics sector. The institutional framework development for promoting the V4 co-operation in transport and logistics development. Thank you for your kind attention! Lajos Veres PhD. Chairman Scientific Association for Spatial Development