Published on 18 February 2022
Hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the transport sector is at the crossroads of major environmental, economic and social challenges. At this informal meeting on 21 and 22 February 2022, the European transport ministers will discuss the available means of action to decarbonise the road transport sector, stimulate innovation in the sector, improve working conditions to increase the attractiveness of transport jobs and support the shift towards more sustainable modes of transport. The meeting will be attended by the European Commissioner for Transport, Adina-Ioana Vălean, and the Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism, Karima Delli.
The COVID-19 crisis placed a heavy strain on the use and financial balance of all forms of transport on a local and global scale. These tensions have been long-lasting in some cases and require the EU Member States to adopt measures in response.
Innovating for the transition
The transport sector is responsible for nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. Decarbonising the sector is essential in order to reach the goals for climate neutrality by 2050. Support for the development of innovative technologies in a harmonised regulatory framework must enable the implementation of effective, inclusive and sustainable transport systems. The ministers will discuss the regulatory provisions needed to encourage innovation in these areas, as well as the measures to be taken to facilitate implementing smart transport systems on a large scale, particularly based on automated and connected vehicles.
Decarbonising the road transport sector
With regard to road transport, two main zero-emission technologies are gradually gaining ground today, although at different speeds: battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The need for recharging infrastructures for battery electric vehicles and fuelling stations for hydrogen vehicles is a major challenge as the deadline approaches for the end of sales of new combustion engine vehicles. The ministers will discuss what measures would be most effective to encourage the spread of technologies key to achieving carbon neutrality in the transport sector.
Improving social circumstances to boost the attractiveness of jobs in the air and maritime sectors
In Europe, the transport sector is facing a labour shortage. The sector is also suffering from the lack of harmonised rules in the European Union, resulting in a lack of social protection in the air sector, for example. In maritime transport, the choice of a ship’s flag state has a direct impact on the social and working conditions of sailors. The issue of improving the working conditions of European workers arises in a market subject to strong international competition. The ministers are invited to examine how the social circumstances of maritime and air transport workers can be improved to attract younger generations to careers in the sector while preserving its competitiveness.
Supporting the modal shift
Adopted in January 2021, the EU’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy estimates that rail freight traffic will double and high-speed rail traffic will triple by 2050. Achieving the Trans-European Transport Network is the backbone of the modal shift from road transport to rail, for both passengers and goods. Increasing the use of more sustainable modes of transport, such as public transport, active modes of transport and short sea shipping, is also encouraged, in particular to reduce reliance on cars for commuting. The ministers will discuss the priority measures to take at both national and European level to further this shift towards more sustainable modes of transport. They will examine the conditions to be met to complete the implementation of the Trans-European Transport Network within the set timeframes.