Given the results of the current programmes, the ECA recommends the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission to consider discontinuing EU funding for transport freight services following the same design as the Marco Polo programmes (“top-down supply-push”) which led in particular to the weaknesses identified in this report (insufficient market uptake, absence of evidence of achieving the objectives, high administrative burden, poor sustainability and deadweight) and making continuation of such funding conditional upon an ex-ante impact assessment showing whether and to what extent there is an EU added value.
Võttes arvesse praeguste programmide tulemusi, soovitab kontrollikoda nõukogul, Euroopa Parlamendil ja komisjonil kaaluda ELi rahastamise peatamist kaubaveoteenustele, mis on kavandatud sarnaselt Marco Polo programmidele („pakkumise toetamine ülevalt alla”), mille tagajärjel tekkisidki aruandes esile toodud puudused (ebapiisav turule sisenemine, eesmärkide saavutamise tõendite puudumine, suur halduskoormus, piiratud jätkusuutlikkus ning tühimõju), ning siduda rahastamise jätkamine mõju eelhindamisega, millest ilmneks, kas ja millises ulatuses looksid programmid ELi lisandväärtust.