The European Commission's White Paper entitled «Transport policy for 2010: time to decide» clearly marks a break with previous policy. Until now, the markets alone were responsible for achieving overall economic efficiency, with liberalisation as the key strategic element. However, these European policies now aim to reduce mobility or, at least, to control its development and, at the same time, to promote transfers to modes of transport that can contribute to sustainable development. This White Paper envisages a vast programme to upgrade other modes of transport, particularly rail. Financing would be based largely on the principle of tolls or charges levied mainly on roads for new infrastructure, particularly railways. The economic consequences for road haulage (and the competitiveness of the economy) justify an analysis of these new guidelines.