STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN 2025-2035 A better mobility starts in cities

From our streets to Europe. The 2019-2024 EU mandate has been filled with landmark achievements in the sphere of EU urban mobility policy, underpinned by the ambitions of the European Green Deal. The task of the next EU policymakers will revolve around keeping the EU on track to meet its targets for 2030 and beyond in terms of climate, road safety, air quality, noise and other Green Deal objectives.

In five years, zero-emission mobility in cities should become mainstream, aided by the proliferation of zero-emission vehicles and lighter transportation options. Preventive measures to free people from some of the everyday journeys that they are currently compelled to take will also contribute to aligning with climate mitigation and environmental health goals. Essential to this transition is greater EU and national support for urban and long-distance transport infrastructure investments based on newly available sustainable urban mobility indicators, with increased budget allocations, clarified rules applicable to urban areas and enhanced city involvement in decision-making.

Creating a multimodal, convenient, and reliable mobility system will further encourage reconsideration of travel habits and a modal shift towards public transport, walking and cycling. In line with their Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, city leaders aim to redesign urban spaces to improve air quality and to make them more welcoming, safer and more inclusive, which in turn promotes economic activity. The EU should support these aims with the corresponding policies and funding tools. In 2030, innovation will continue to drive mobility services, requiring proper calibration of innovation funding, capacity building for cities, and improved data sharing between businesses and governments to optimise infrastructure adaptation and planning.

Building upon the Eurocities manifesto, the following recommendations contribute to achieving this vision and filling in the current EU mobility policy gaps in line with cities’ aspirations.

1. Building Sustainable Urban Connections: Securing Modal Shift within and Beyond Cities

   Connecting the dots between long- and short-distance transport. Eurocities recommends that the EU institutions accompany the cities now termed ‘urban nodes’ in taking full ownership of their new role, acknowledged by the TEN-T regulation, by:

   • Clarifying the role and responsibilities of urban node authorities while giving them a seat at the decision table of big transport investment plans which directly or indirectly impact their territories.
   • Setting up a new Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) – Transport programme, including an increased budget for urban areas aligned with local priorities.
   • Providing guidance for the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans of urban nodes on how to integrate land-use and infrastructure planning, taking into account the local, regional, and European scale.

   Deliver on the EU plan to boost long-distance rail. Cities are fully behind the EU’s ambition to double the volume of high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and to revive night train and freight connections across Europe. To finance the ambitions, policy makers should:

   • Ensure that existing programmes such as the CEF-Transport programme are aligned with this level of ambition to ensure the development of high-performing, sustainable, and efficiently interconnected trans-European transport infrastructure for rail in Europe.
   • Explore the implementation of cross-mode subsidies and adequate national taxation schemes to promote environmentally friendly modes of transportation, leveraging legislative tools such as the Energy Taxation Directive and the Eurovignette Directive.
   • Build upon the experience of national discounted fares such as the Austrian KlimaTicket schemes for railway to attract new users.

   Prioritising sustainable transport modes. The European institutions should:

   • Continue to support the public transport sector’s decarbonisation and digital solutions to support its prioritisation and integration with other modes.
   • Fully recognise the positive impact of public transport to be a credible 24/7 alternative, including by safeguarding the freedom for local and regional authorities to set public service obligations on public transport.
   • Propose a measurable implementation plan of the EU Cycling Declaration based on cities’ recommendations.
   • Promote guidance and funding for traffic reduction solutions as an enabler for safer, more resilient and liveable cities.
2. Mainstreaming zero-emission mobility in cities

   Secure the transition of the automotive sector towards zero-emissions. Eurocities recommends that EU policymakers:

   • Secure the 2035 phase-out targets for fossil-fuelled vehicles as already agreed at the EU level.
   • Address vehicle categories in which decarbonisation is lagging, such as Non-Road Mobile Machinery.

   Propose a clear set of actions to put lighter and smaller vehicles on the market. Eurocities recommends that the EU institutions:

   • Address the issue by regulating vehicles’ energy efficiency, ensure that imported vehicles comply with EU legislation, set dimension limits and ensure better consumer information.
   • Complete the applicable regulatory framework for lighter modes of transport, ensuring road safety and limiting their emissions.
   • Provide continued support in research and innovation for new lighter vehicles for freight and passenger transport.

   Enabling cities’ infrastructure for the roll-out of zero-emission vehicles. Eurocities recommends that EU decision makers:

   • Propose new funding programmes as part of the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework to prepare cities for the adaptation of local infrastructure to the roll-out of zero-emission vehicles.
   • Continue to provide EU guidance to better plan zero-emission urban mobility during the implementation of the new EU legislation as well as continuous support for standardisation.