On Tuesday 27 February, MEPs on the transport committee supported the own initiative report by István Ujhelyi (S&D, Hungary), entitled “Europe on the Move: an agenda for the future of mobility in the EU” but also called for this report to be appropriately completed.
This text was presented to the MEPs for the first time and directly follows on from the European Commission communication presented as part of the first "mobility" package on 31 May last (see EUROPE 11799).
In the document, the rapporteur highlights the challenges created by the digitalisation of mobility, which is an essential element for the sector. Ujhelyi would like a genuine European framework to be implemented, involving mobility technologies and solutions in which research would play a major role. He also argues that the digitalisation of transport should help to respond to connectivity problems between rural and urban areas. He considers that the Commission should carry out a detailed study into data protection and responsibility, which would go together with this paradigm change.
The text submitted by Ujhelyi, which the latter is also linking to the own initiative report on intelligent cooperative transport systems and voted on 20 February last by the transport committee (see EUROPE 11965), received a warm welcome from the MEPs.
Jakop Dalunde (Greens/EFA, Sweden) said that it had “a very good connection” which “anticipates the future”, while Pavel Telička (ALDE, Czech Republic) referred to its “high quality”. The variety of problems tackled, such as innovation, road safety and climate change, were also welcomed.
The parliamentarians, however, highlighted a few weaknesses in the draft report, which they consider does not tackle a number of problems. Wim Van de Camp (EPP, Netherlands) would have liked inter-modality to be mentioned, whereas Ismail Ertug (S&D, Germany) and Karima Delli (Greens/DFA, France) highlight the need to tackle the question of overhauling the automobile industry.
Several MEPs also asserted that they would have amendments to make to Mr Ujhelyi’s text. The latter has requested that they do not put “the classic habitual amendments” on the table but rather “intelligent ideas”. He is therefore hoping that the definitive draft report will be devised as a “common treasure" that obtains the appropriate contributions required from his colleagues. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)