Final answer:
The European Union controls European transportation development, aiming to eliminate barriers to the movement of goods, labor, and capital with policies that member states are expected to follow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The governing body that controls European transportation development is the European Union (EU). This supranational entity significantly influences its member countries, including economic policies and transportation. The European Union began as a free trade association, evolved into a common market, and eventually became a full economic union. One of the EU's objectives has been to eliminate barriers to the mobility of goods, labor, and capital across Europe, including the development and regulation of transportation infrastructure. Although each country maintains some autonomy, especially over local transportation initiatives, the EU sets wide-reaching regulations and standards that member states are expected to follow. This aligns with the larger goal of the EU to promote unification and economic efficiency among its members.
In the years following World War II, European leaders sought economic integration to prevent another devastating conflict. These integration efforts have included the adoption of a common currency, the euro, and policies aimed at creating a single market for seamless trade and movement within the continent. Despite challenges, such as enforcement issues and the recent departure of the United Kingdom from the EU (commonly known as Brexit), the European Union remains a powerful force in shaping Europe's economic and transportation landscape.