4 March 2024: ERA attended a conference organised jointly by the European Commission (DG MOVE) and the Florence School of Regulation: ‘Moving Forward: What’s next for EU mobility & transport?’ on 21 February. During the conference, policymakers, industry actors and academics discussed the state of play of EU transport policy and the challenges and priorities for the future of EU mobility.

The conference was divided around three main topics: delivering a more competitive and better-connected Union, the inclusive transition in the field of transport and the transport agenda in a changing geopolitical context.

Overall, the conference revealed that competitiveness will probably be at the top of the agenda for the next European Commission (and this also in the light of the reports that are currently being prepared by Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta). It was also stressed that we are now at a stage where the need is not for more regulation but for a stable regulatory framework, and EU policymakers have to focus on implementation.

We were happy to hear the speakers raising the importance of air connectivity, as well as the role of regional and local authorities in encouraging the green transition for all transport modes. Regional governments have ambitious plans for testing and implementing new technologies, and the regions are the ideal proving ground for those innovations. It is therefore important to facilitate investments at local level. Member States and regional governments play a crucial role in implementing EU regulations and giving access to investment tools.

Furthermore, the issue of train versus air fares was raised, showing that the EU Single Transport Area is not yet achieved as there are still differences between sectors. Today, most of the national railway companies only operate in their Member State,s making journey times long, with several connections. In this respect, the next Commission will have to work more on intermodality and ensure that all Member States are on a level playing field (for example, intermodal hubs in Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt versus railway transport in the Balkans and Eastern Europe).

The debate also focused on infrastructure, and in particular on the investment needed to ensure the proper functioning of the existing transport infrastructure as in many Member States these are very old and at the end of their lifecycle. The Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) was mentioned as a good example of a comprehensive regulation that look at the whole picture, interlining different rules.

In order to achieve a smart, resilient and sustainable transport system, it was suggested that a system facilitator could help to engage with administrations and local authorities. Only such initiatives will create a strong and connected European network that can withstand geopolitical changes.