Stockmann (PSE ). - (DE) Monsieur le Président, Madame la Commissaire, Mesdames et Messieurs, il est temps que les acteurs du secteur du transport de marchandises disposent de l’instrument d’aide qu’est Marco Polo, car ce programme est attendu avec impatience, comme le montre la pléthore de candidatures déposées en réponse au modeste appel d’offres.
Stockmann (PSE ) (DE) Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for support under the Marco Polo instrument to be made available to European actors in the field of freight transport; the sense of urgency with which this is awaited is demonstrated by the large number of applications submitted in response to what was a small-scale announcement. By precisely targeting specific objects of assistance, the support programme aims to bring about the transfer of goods from the roads to more environmentally friendly means of transport.