Abstract:

The transport market is an essential element in the functioning of modern economies, being deeply influenced by a series of economic, geopolitical, energy, climate, and health stressors. Since 2000, the European Union has gone through multiple episodes of instability—the global financial crisis, successive enlargements, accelerated energy transition, the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent geopolitical tensions—which have had a significant impact on the dynamics of the transport market. This paper aims to analyse the evolution of the transport market in the European Union between 2000 and 2024, with a particular focus on Romania, through the lens of the influence of the aforementioned stressors. The methodology used combines theoretical analysis of the literature with an examination of relevant quantitative indicators on freight and passenger transport volumes, modal structure, and carbon dioxide emissions generated by the transport sector. The results highlight significant structural differences between European Union member states, as well as a process of gradual convergence of Romania towards the European average, marked, however, by persistent vulnerabilities in terms of infrastructure, energy efficiency, and resilience to external shocks. The analysis emphasizes the decisive role of European and national public policies in mitigating the negative effects of stress factors and in steering the transport sector towards a more sustainable and resilient model. The paper contributes to understanding the complexity of the relationship between stress factors and the evolution of the transport market, offering relevant conclusions for the development of future strategies in this field.