The second "mobility package" includes a combination of supply- and demand-oriented measures to speed up the transition towards low and zero emission mobility and strengthen the competitiveness of the European mobility and transport sector. The opinion addresses the topics of
public procurement of clean vehicles
the opening up to competition of the bus market (liberalisation), which would have a significant impact on existing Public Service Obligation contracts of local and regional authorities with public transport providers.
combined transport
provision of alternative fuels infrastructure
The rapporteur spoke on behalf of the CoR at the joint EIB/EC/UITP workshop on "Bus fleet renewal through deployment of clean and efficient Vehicles" in June 2018 and presented his opinion.
Concerning clean vehicles, the final act stipulates that "the Commission would be required to set up a Union platform for cross-border and joint procurement of clean vehicles, to present an action plan on charging and refuelling infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles and to propose a methodology for counting the life-cycle CO2 emissions and well-to-wheel CO2 emissions of vehicles.". This cross-border issue has been a key point in the CoR opinion.
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- points out that the move towards low and zero emission of particulate matter and NOx benefits the lives of Europe's citizens, especially in cities, where dense, highly polluting urban traffic worsens people's lives and health;
- notes that, in connection with the greening of motor vehicle use, (cargo) cycling for short journeys, as well as railway and green shipping, should be promoted
- recognises that there needs to be an interoperable solution for the provision of alternative fuels. While the CoR acknowledges that the legislation and regulations for achieving low-emission mobility should be open to all kinds of technology, each local and regional authority could strive to attain economies of scale, possibly by cooperating with neighbouring and cross-border regions;
- thinks that plans for low-emission mobility should go beyond end-of-pipe solutions and be aligned with increased production and distribution of green electricity and renewable fuels;
- points out that refuelling should be easy to use and interoperable across borders. This requires European action in order to create a single market.