Brussels, 30/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - The most recent technical seminar on the Urban Transport Green Paper, that took place in Brussels on 16 May, confirmed the fact that the European Commission was prepared to renew its commitment to the definition of integrated urban transport, in which sustainable mobility policy is proving an essential tool for helping European cities meet the major challenges confronting them, such as climate change. Social policies and environmental aspects will therefore be key points in the future Green Paper on urban transport that the Commission is expected to publish on 12 September. The Green Paper will be subject to a final public consultation on 4 June in Brussels. According to sources close to the dossier, the Commission is also planning to include logistical questions and promote “green public procurement” in this document.
In the social context, according to the technical document adopted on 16 May, the focus will be on the need to take into account demographic change and less advantaged groups of transport users. Highlighting the “very green” character of the paper, the stakeholders welcomed the introduction, on this occasion, of the clause promoting “green public procurement” - the paper consists of measures promoting implementation of publicly coordinated markets, notably in the area of clean vehicles. One of these projects was submitted by EUROCITIES (an organisation that brings together Europe's major cities) to the Commission vice-president in charge of transport, Jacques Barrot, during a technical seminar on 21 April at the premises of this organisation (EUROPE 9415). A decision still needs to be taken in this context on the question of national legislation harmonisation, which could prove an obstacle to the setting up of group orders. Anxious to respect the subsidiarity principle, the Commission currently wants to avoid intervening too much in this respect. In the document published during the beginning of the consultations on 31 January, the Commission on several occasions underlined and confirmed that questions concerning changes to urban transport were within the remit of member states. The goal of the Green Paper, announced for autumn 2007, will therefore be to examine how the EU could create a framework that incorporates polices indirectly affecting urban transport issues, and a framework that optimises the profitability of urban transport as well as citizens' mobility. This would also involve highlighting emissions reduction, and promoting all modes of transport, including transport by foot and bicycle. (aby)