This paper elucidates the traffic congestion problem in the European Union (EU) and proposes an integrated solution termed "congestion management". Moreover, it suggests that the only way congestion management will succeed is through international cooperation. The best body for organizing this cooperation and ensuring the success of congestion management is the EU. Section 2 of this paper defines the traffic congestion problem, its rapid increase, and the high costs associated with congestion. Section 3 rejects the traditional solution of increasing road infrastructure and instead proposes and defines congestion management with both abstract words and concrete examples. In Section 4, the author explains the drawbacks of maintaining multiple national plans and the benefits of fashioning a coordinated international approach. Section 5 lists the author’s proposals for the role the EU should play in road pricing, technological solutions, and other aspects of congestion management. Section 6 concludes the paper. (A)
Abstract