The European Commissioner for Transport, Adina-Ioana Vălean, provided some details on the European Commission’s strategy to develop a “smart and sustainable transport sector” on Thursday 20 February during a discussion with members of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee (TRAN).
The Commission’s flagship transport initiative for 2020, the ‘smart and sustainable mobility strategy’ “will set out how transport can contribute to carbon neutrality by 2050 and how we use digital technologies in our sector”, said Vălean.
While this strategy covers both the digitisation of transport and road safety, it will also focus on measures to make mobility more sustainable.
Sustainable mobility. The Commissioner began by recalling the Commission’s intention to present two legislative proposals by the end of 2020 to develop the use of alternative fuels: one in the aviation sector and the other in the maritime sector.
She furthermore assured that she will launch a call for funding for the construction of public charging points (for electric vehicles) and refuelling points for alternative fuels. She also added: “This will be followed next year by a directive on alternative fuel infrastructure”.
However, the commissioner was silent on the possibility of taxing aircraft kerosene and dodged the idea of including shipping in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). On this second point, she simply stated that this was one option among others and that the EU should coordinate with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
With regard to freight transport, Vălean plans to present specific proposals in 2021 to ‘green’ this sector.
On this subject, she particularly stressed the important role of railways, which can also help to combat road traffic congestion.
“We are evaluating the regulation on rail freight corridors, as further actions will be needed to boost rail freight and thereby contribute to the objectives of the Green Deal”, she said.
Finally, the Commissioner also announced that her services are examining how to inform users more effectively about alternative modes of transport for their travels, including through “carbon footprint calculators”.
Smart mobility. Promoting the benefits of transport digitisation, not only for the environment, but also for safety and accessibility, Ms Vălean said that the Commission’s data strategy, unveiled the day before (see EUROPE 12429/5), “ will put Europe at the forefront of the development of smart transport”.
In addition to working to develop innovative technologies, the EU must also ensure their acceptance by citizens, she continued.
Road safety. On the safety aspect, the Commissioner welcomed the adoption 2 days earlier of the ‘Stockholm Declaration’, which calls on UN Member States to reduce road deaths by 50% by 2030 (see other news). At the EU level, she intends to update the Driving Licence Directive (2006/126).
Ongoing issues. While some MEPs used the discussion to relaunch the debate on the sensitive ‘Mobility I’ package, recently confirmed at the EU Council (see other news), the Commissioner reiterated the Commission’s concerns on this issue. Asked by Andor Deli (EPP, Hungary) about the possibility of stopping the legislative procedure altogether, she said that, despite her reservations, such an option was not feasible.
Responding to questions from MEPs, she finally expressed her determination to make progress on the Single European Sky (SES2+) and the ‘Eurovignette’ Directive (1999/62), two dossiers on which the Member States have been unable to reach agreement (see EUROPE 11448/17, 12422/6). On the ‘Eurovignette’ issue, the Commissioner is confident that an agreement between the Member States (‘general approach’) will be reached under the next rotating Presidency of the EU Council. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)