European Commission adopts the Urban Mobility Package

Urban mobility in Europe’s cities – a home to 70% of the EU population – is still heavily reliant on the use of conventionally-fuelled private cars. Only slow progress is being made in shifting towards sustainable urban mobility modes. To stimulate the shift towards cleaner and more sustainable transport in urban areas the European Commission adopted the Urban Mobility Package on 17 December 2013. The Urban Mobility Package aims to reinforce the support to European cities for tackling urban mobility challenges by:

• Sharing experiences, show-casing best practices, and fostering cooperation;
• Providing targeted financial support;
• Focussing research and innovation on delivering solutions for urban mobility challenges;
• Involving the Member States and enhance international cooperation.

The Commission has actively promoted the concept of sustainable urban mobility planning for several years, which is also one of the key areas in the Urban Mobility Package alongside urban logistics, urban access regulations, deployment of Intelligent Transport System solutions in urban areas and urban road safety. The package is complemented by a document that sets out the concept for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans that has emerged from wide exchange between stakeholders and planning experts across the European Union. The concept reflects a broad consensus on the main features of a modern and sustainable urban mobility and transport plan.

In the upcoming years, the European Commission will continue to support national, regional and local authorities to develop and implement Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, including through financial instruments. In 2014, the Commission will set up a European platform for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans to further coordinate EU cooperation on the development of the SUMP concept and tools, and to foster broader exchange. CH4LLENGE – involving over 30 European cities - will be part of this process and will support the wider promotion and implementation of SUMPs in European cities.

For further reading:

Communication: "Together towards competitive and resource efficient urban mobility”

Annex: A Concept for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans

Photo: City of Krakow