On Wednesday 20th July 2016, the European Commission published its Communication ‘’A European strategy for low-emission mobility’’, outlining its future masterplan on the decarbonisation of transport.

EIM – the Association representing the rail infrastructure managers in Europe – welcomes the initiative by the European Commission, which sets an ambitious plan of action to make European mobility more efficient and sustainable. According to figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), transport is responsible for around a quarter of EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and it is the sector whose emissions have increased the most in the last two decades. It is therefore necessary to reverse this worrying trend and make transport cleaner, in order to meet the carbon reduction targets outlined in the 2011-Transport White Paper as well as the long-term objectives enshrined in the COP21-agreement.

A European-wide strategy for low-emission mobility will also offer significant opportunities to address various challenges in areas such as energy, innovation and investments, benefitting transport as a whole. Under the Energy Union’s strategy, there will be a chance to maximise the synergies between transport and energy systems, or transport with digital technologies, improving strikingly the efficiency, reliability and attractiveness of the sector.

A better integration between all modes, promoting the electrification of transport and a focus on sustainable urban mobility represent significant steps to deliver the Commission’s plan in the next decade. While reducing its energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, transport needs nonetheless to continue to meet society’s needs and remain a key pillar for growth and competitiveness.

Monika Heiming, EIM’s Executive Director, said: – ‘’Transport is crucial in meeting the ambitious objectives set out by the EU’s climate policy. Notably, electrified rail services can play a fundamental role in closing the carbon-gap. A combination of converging factors – such as steadily increasing urbanisation across Europe, growing transport demands by users and the new streams of digital innovations – require an appropriate and sensible answer from EU decision-makers to tackle the environmental and energy-related challenges that these upcoming trends bring. It is therefore time to take action, and EIM believes that all modes of transport can make a fundamental contribution to this call’’ –.

The text of the Communication and related documents can be found: here