Achieving zero-emission mobility is a key objective for Europe. It is not only a lofty aspiration but an urgent need. The road to realising this vision is long and it will be the responsibility of the next EU policymakers to ensure Europe stays on course.
To mark the first 100 days of the new European Commission, the Eurocities #100daysEU campaign is spotlighting 10 priorities for a better Europe. As outlined at the European Mayors Summit, city leaders are committed to strengthening democracy, accelerating climate action, and addressing citizens’ most pressing needs—including ensuring safe, sustainable mobility for all.
Reliable and sustainable urban mobility is crucial to encouraging citizens to adopt greener modes of transport, such as public transit, walking and cycling. Between 2019 and 2024, the EU has made landmark strides in urban mobility policy. Key achievements include committing to zero-emission mobility in cities by 2035, eliminating road fatalities by 2050, and establishing cycling as a mainstream mode of transport across the EU.
Cities have their say in the future
City leaders’ close proximity to the realities and needs of citizens uniquely positions them to prioritise urban mobility solutions. They have laid out these priorities for the next EU administration in the strategic agenda, ‘A better mobility starts in cities’.
They are already shifting away from private vehicle use – especially internal combustion engines (ICE) – and adopting solutions that are healthier for the environment and citizens. However, these innovations present challenges around public space use and public acceptance. The EU must work to better align its solutions with the local realities and priorities of cities by promoting alternatives to private vehicles. While vehicle decarbonisation will reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, it is equally important to promote public transport and active modes of transport, such as walking and cycling. These shifts will help address congestion, improve road safety, and enhance overall quality of life in cities.
While EU standards on vehicle emissions and safety have improved conditions, questions remain about their alignment with cities’ objectives, particularly reversing the growing trend of increasingly large, heavy private vehicles. To encourage sustainable modal shift, the EU plays a vital role in supporting cities to achieve more sustainable, safer and inclusive mobility. EU funding programmes have been instrumental in developing critical transport infrastructure across Europe. However, at the local level, funding opportunities for city-led transport projects remain limited, leaving cities to take the lead in improving their systems.
Barcelona exemplifies this proactive approach by using public transport to address key urban challenges. As Laia Bonet, First Deputy Mayor of Barcelona and Eurocities Shadow Commissioner of Mobility, explains, “A fast, affordable, and convenient public transport system is one key building block for creating thriving and more inclusive cities. It is what glues our cities together and brings equal opportunities to our neighbourhoods.”
A fast, affordable, and convenient public transport system is one key building block for creating thriving and more inclusive cities.
To achieve zero-emission mobility, the EU must significantly increase investments in sustainable urban transport systems. Transport is crucial for accessibility and cohesion in urban areas, but more must be done to ensure this role is fully reflected in EU policies.
The implementation of the revised TEN-T regulation will play a key role in this transition. The requirements for Urban Nodes outlined in the regulation should be leveraged to prioritise the development of sustainable urban transport solutions, improving connectivity within cities and between urban and rural areas.
Implementing the European Cycling Declaration
The European Cycling Declaration marks a significant milestone in promoting cycling across Europe. It highlights critical priorities such as improving cycling data collection, enhancing the quality of cycling infrastructure, and ensuring greater safety for cyclists.
The new EU mandate presents an opportunity to turn the principles of this declaration into action by developing a concrete implementation plan. While Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, is expected to propose a ‘progress report’ on the declaration by the end of 2025, this alone is insufficient. The declaration already outlines numerous tangible ways to support cycling in Europe, many of which can be driven at the European level.
To ensure meaningful progress, the following actions should be included in a comprehensive implementation plan, as outlined in our policy paper on the European Cycling Declaration:
- Promote EU-wide standards for bike infrastructure;
- Assess the fitness of existing EU, national and regional funding instruments available to invest in urban bike infrastructure;
- Assess national traffic rules affecting cycling, such as the possibility to set a 30km/h speed limit by default in urban areas;
- Fostering cycling clusters in cities, addressing skills, bicycle tourism and supporting bike logistics can contribute to a flourishing bike economy in Europe.
By taking these concrete steps, the EU can significantly accelerate the promotion of cycling, aligning with its broader sustainability and mobility goals while building a stronger cycling culture and economy.
Safe and affordable public transport
Recognising public transport’s critical role in addressing social, economic and environmental challenges, representatives from major European cities have signed the European Declaration for Sustainable and Attractive Public Transport in Cities in which they commit to enhancing sustainable, accessible, and resilient public transport systems that facilitate seamless daily mobility across Europe’s urban areas.
André Sobczak, Eurocities’ Secretary General, lays out the challenges such an achievement would address. “Strong public transport systems are key to addressing the urban challenges of the rising cost of living, social cohesion and climate change,” says Sobczak. “As cities take action to make public transport sustainable and attractive, we urge the European institutions to step up investments toward this goal. Coordination at the European, national, and regional levels will be crucial to maximise these efforts and create public transport systems that truly serve citizens.”
Strong public transport systems are key to addressing the urban challenges of the rising cost of living, social cohesion and climate change.
To support this, the EU should prioritise the following actions:
- Additional funding under the next EU budget for investments in local public transport, infrastructure and vehicles;
- Safeguarding the freedom for local and regional authorities to set public service obligations on public transport – these obligations are essential to provide reduced fares for citizens and ensure that certain routes are operated where the market cannot operate;
- Measures to promote the attractiveness of the public transport sector to address staff shortages.
With these measures, the EU can help ensure that public transport systems remain resilient, equitable and fit for the future, supporting cities in achieving their sustainability and cohesion goals. While the situation is gradually improving, public transport has faced significant challenges in recent years, from the COVID-19 crisis to the energy crisis, which has driven up operational costs.
Substantial investments in renewing and expanding public transport networks are essential to address these challenges. Additionally, integrating active and shared modes of transport into EU transport policies will be key to making them more attractive to users.
To support this transition, 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;
- Promote guidance and funding for traffic reduction solutions as an enabler for safer, more resilient and liveable cities.
By prioritising these actions, the EU can strengthen public transport systems and advance a more sustainable, cohesive, and accessible mobility future.
________
This article is part of Eurocities #100daysEU campaign, which seeks to highlight 10 actions for cities that the new European Commission should be focussed on.
Previous articles in this series include: