Decarbonising transport is key to tackling the
climate crisis and improving citizens' health and
living standards. In opinions
on the Trans-European Transport Network and the new
Urban Mobility Framework adopted in the 11 October
plenary session,
t
he European Committee of the Regions (CoR) calls
for better rules and adequate financial means to
connect EU's territories through accessible and
sustainable transport networks and to develop
emission-free and affordable urban transport
systems.
European cities and regions play a major role in
promoting and developing accessible and sustainable
transport in the EU. They are at the forefront in
delivering the decarbonisation targets agreed at EU
level and in developing transport networks for all EU
territories that strengthen social, economic and
territorial cohesion and reverse the growing risk of
mobility poverty in rural areas.
During their plenary session on 11 October, members of
the
European Committee of the Regions
adopted opinions on the Trans-European Transport
Network (TEN-T) and the new Urban Mobility Framework
calling for the closer involvement of local and
regional authorities in the development of policies and
guidance on the deployment of sustainable and
accessible transport systems in the EU’s regions and
cities.
Local and regional authorities actively contribute to
the planning and financing of transport infrastructure
in their territories. For this reason, they called for
an increased involvement of regions in the
trans-European transport network (TEN-T) governance
structure in the opinion on "Guidelines for the development of the
trans-European transport network (TEN-T)", adopted by CoR members during their plenary session
on 11 October. They highlighted that closing gaps,
removing bottlenecks and technical barriers in the
transport sector is the best way to bring concrete
European added value to European citizens. The TEN-T,
which addresses the implementation and development of a
Europe-wide multi-modal transport network, favouring
the most environmentally friendly modes of transport,
provides a strong European added value and is the
backbone of cohesion and connectivity of all regions,
the opinion argues.
CO2 emissions from the transport sector, especially
from passenger cars and vans, account for a third of
the EU's total greenhouse-gas emissions. By providing
infrastructure for low- and zero-emission mobility, the
TEN-T will play a major role in achieving the climate
goals the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.
Local and regional authorities highlighted the
socio-economic benefits of cross-border projects in
their territories but stressed that TEN-T must take
into account the diversity of challenges that EU
regions face.
CoR members also highlighted the importance of clear
rules on promoting climate-friendly modes of transport
and ensuring that transport infrastructure is adapted
to face the effects of climate change and related new
risks.
Isabelle Boudineau
(FR/PES), member of the Regional Council of
Nouvelle-Aquitaine and rapporteur of this opinion,
said: "
The difficulties in importing wheat and raw
materials, currently stuck in Ukraine, demonstrates
that establishing an efficient European transport
system is more than an economic need; it is a
necessity in terms of European sovereignty. This is
why it is imperative to complete the TEN-T by
developing cross-border transport projects. We need
to improve and better integrate urban nodes into
the transport system, to make free movement of
persons and goods a reality for all."
With regards to the "The new Urban Mobility Framework" proposed by the European Commission, CoR members
stressed that, after decades of under-investment in
public transport, the COVID pandemic and the
consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine
are exacerbating the funding gap faced by local and
regional authorities. This risks to undermine their
commitment to deliver better and cleaner transport
services for citizens in both urban and rural areas.
With urban areas responsible for some 23% of the EU’s
total transport emissions at present, members
emphasised in the
opinion
on "The new Urban Mobility Framework" that public
transport must be the backbone of urban mobility in the
EU, complemented by improved conditions for increased
active mobility as well as micro mobility and other
innovative solutions.
The rapporteur
Linda Gaasch
(LU/Greens), Member of the Luxembourg City municipal
council, said: "
Strengthening walking and cycling, further
developing strong public transport systems and
emission-free solutions for logistics are the
future of urban mobility. With the opinion on the
Urban Mobility Framework, the Committee of the
Regions sends a strong signal to the other European
institutions: Cities and regions are ready for the
mobility transition!
"
Furthermore, to ensure connectivity of peri-urban and
rural areas and to mitigate mobility poverty there
needs to be an overall increase in public transport
capacity and a more strategic approach to innovation
(e.g., on-demand public transport), the opinion says.
The economic prosperity of urban centres and their
surroundings is directly linked to the fluidity of
mobility; to achieve this fluidity and to meet the EU’s
sustainability targets it is essential to ensure
improved access to EU funds for local and regional
authorities (LRAs). The opinion also calls for LRAs to
be more actively included in policy development at EU
and national levels, while pointing to the significant
untapped potential of active mobility (walking and
cycling), which offers important health and societal
co-benefits and requires very little investment.
Background:
The revision of the
Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)
policy, proposed by the European Commission in December
2021, is developing a Europe-wide multi-modal transport
network with the objective of closing gaps, removing
bottlenecks and technical barriers and strengthening
social, economic and territorial cohesion in the EU.
The policy supports the application of innovation, new
technologies and digital solutions to all modes of
transport to achieve the goals of the European Green
Deal. The objective is improved use of infrastructure,
reduced environmental impact of transport, enhanced
energy efficiency and increased safety. To address the
effects of the Russian invasion in Ukraine on transport
and infrastructure, the Commission
amended
the TEN-T policy in July 2022, strengthening the
transport connections links with Ukraine.
To support the transition to cleaner, greener, and
smarter mobility, the European Commission has
introduced the
new Urban Mobility Framework
in December 2021. The framework calls for a stronger
public transport network, efficient zero-emission urban
logistics, and better management of mobility flows,
through multimodal hubs and digital solutions. It
provides guidance for local action and seeks to support
cities and regions in their role as essential transport
hubs within the single market.
To support the objectives of sustainable and affordable
transport for all European cities and regions, the
European Committee of the Regions established the
Green Deal Going Local Campaign. This initiative aims to put regions and cities at the
centre of the European Green Deal to empower local and
regional leaders to take action on climate change and
increase the delivery of sustainable EU-funded projects
in local communities across the European Union.
Contact:
Theresa Sostmann
Tel. +32 475999415
Theresa.Sostmann@cor.europa.eu