EU 'mobility package' targets road transport
Photo © remik44992 - Fotolia
(BRUSSELS) - The Commission laid out plans Wednesday to modernise European mobility and transport, aiming for a transition to clean energy and digitalisation that is 'social fair' as well as remaining competitive.
'Europe on the Move' is a wide-ranging set of initiatives to make traffic safer; encourage fairer road charging; reduce CO2 emissions, air pollution and congestion; cut red-tape for businesses; fight illicit employment and ensure proper conditions and rest times for workers.
The EU executive says the long-term benefits of these measures will extend well beyond the transport sector by promoting jobs, growth and investment, strengthening social fairness, widening consumers' choices and firmly putting Europe on the path towards low emissions.
"The EU has a unique opportunity to not only lead the modernisation of road transport at home, but also globally," says Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc: "Our reforms will set the foundation for standardised, digital road solutions, fairer social conditions and enforceable market rules. They will help decrease the socio-economic costs of transport, like time lost in traffic, road fatalities and serious injuries, health risks from pollution and noise, whilst serving the needs of citizens, businesses and nature. Common standards and cross-border services will also help make multi-modal travel a reality across Europe."
Transport is undergoing a number of technological, economic and social transformations whose pace is accelerating, says the Commission. The Commission's long-term strategy should to turn challenges into opportunities and deliver 'smart, socially fair and competitive mobility' by 2025. The EU says it will drive this transition through targeted legislation and supporting measures, including infrastructure investment, research and innovation. This will ensure that the best clean, connected and automated mobility solutions, transport equipment and vehicles will be developed, offered and manufactured in Europe.
It is accompanied by a first series of 8 legislative initiatives specifically targeting road transport.
Road transport directly employs 5 million Europeans, contributing to almost a fifth of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. The proposals will improve the functioning of the road haulage market and help improve workers' social and employment conditions, says the Commission. This will be done by stepping up enforcement, fighting illicit employment practices, cutting the administrative burden for companies and bringing more clarity to existing rules, for instance concerning the application of national minimum wage laws.
The EU executive is also promoting 'seamless mobility solutions' so that citizens and businesses can travel more easily across Europe. This is the case of the proposal to increase the interoperability between tolling systems will enable road users to drive throughout the EU without having to be concerned by different administrative formalities. Common specifications for public transport data will also allow passengers to better plan their journey and follow the best route even if it crosses a border.
This first 8 proposals are to be complemented over the next 12 months by other proposals, including on post-2020 emissions standards for cars and vans as well as the first-ever emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles, which follows today's proposal on monitoring and reporting of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption from heavy-duty vehicles. These proposals will further drive innovation; improve competitiveness, reduce CO2 emissions, improve air quality and public health and increase the safety of transport.
Further information
Factsheet: Europe on the Move – An overview
Europe on the Move: Q&A - background guide