The paper recalls the main challenges of the European urban freight policy: the environment, the need
for sustainable growth and quality of urban life. These are then interpreted by the member states. Some
states have a top down prescriptive approach some others do not. The BESTUFS project, promoted by the
EC, collects and disseminates best practice across the EU. It has identified a deep weakness at a local
level, whilst also a wide range of pilots and successful exceptions.
