Brussels, 27/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Committee of the Regions (CoR) welcomes the European Commission's resolve to support the urban mobility plans through non-binding guidance. The opinion on this issue, adopted in the CoR's plenary session on Thursday 26 June, states that local authorities will have to be involved in these plans.
The CoR believes that planning in this way would enable a response to the problem of mobility - responding through an integrated approach to urban transport, spatial planning and urban policies. The CoR wants the member states to commit to establishing the ideal conditions for local and regional authorities to be able to be involved in the establishment of these sustainable mobility plans. The CoR suggests that the plans include efforts to improve air quality and the climate - elements which are lacking in the Commission's communication. The rapporteur on this issue, Albert Bore (PES, UK) stated that “the CoR now needs an absolute commitment from the European Commission that there will be local and regional involvement in the proposed European platform on SUMPS [sustainable urban mobility plans] and on the member states' expert group on urban mobility and transport”. (MD)