Region and cities call for increased investment to tackle transport poverty

Local and regional leaders voiced strong opposition to the centralisation of Cohesion Policy funding in the next EU budget, during the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) plenary session on 10 December. They warned that weakening regions' and cities' access to funding would reduce regional capacity to fight transport poverty effectively, increase territorial inequalities and undermine Europe's competitiveness.

In an opinion drafted by Patrik Schwarcz-Kiefer (HU/EPP), Member of the County Council of Baranya Vármegye, CoR members underlined that transport poverty is rising across the EU, particularly in disadvantaged urban and rural areas with limited public transport, poor connectivity and high car dependency. Vulnerable groups, including women, single-parent families, young and elderly people, people with disabilities, and low-income groups often face more barriers in accessing mobility. They stressed the vital role of connectivity for the EU's economic, social and territorial cohesion and that cuts to public budgets have resulted in an increasing shortfall in accessible and affordable transport reinforcing inequalities within the single market. They called for targeted, place-based solutions tailored to these realities.

Regions and cities emphasised the crucial role crucial of publicly funded public transport in improving accessibility and reducing mobility inequalities. They stated that local and regional authorities (LRAs) have made significant efforts to support EU decarbonisation goals and to improve mobility, but decades of underfunding in the transport sector and rising operational costs are forcing them to make difficult choices between maintaining essential public transport services and investing in cleaner fleets. The CoR, therefore, called for reinforced EU support for the mobility transition at local and regional level with a gradual placed-based and technologically neutral approach that safeguards vulnerable groups and reflects territorial realities.

CoR members stated that Cohesion Policy is a vital source of support for LRAs as they seek to deliver effective mobility solutions tailored to local needs. It guarantees a multilevel governance approach and predictable funding, enabling both rapid local investments - into small-scale improvements, for example, to pavements and bus stops - as well as long-term mobility strategies. They warned that centralising Cohesion Policy would undermine regions' capacity to deliver targeted, long-term solutions to transport poverty. The CoR therefore calls for the next MFF to guarantee regions stable access to funding and direct involvement in designing mobility strategies tailored to local needs.

In addition to Cohesion policy, local and regional leaders stressed the opportunity that the fresh resources to be made available under the Social Climate Fund can ensure that the burden of the green transition does not fall disproportionately on the most disadvantaged. They called for the full involvement of LRAs in the ongoing preparation of national 'social climate plans', as required by the Social Climate Fund regulation, and pointed out that several EU Member States have yet to submit their plans. They recommended that Member States make use of the option to reallocate up to 15% of their Social Climate Fund resources to Cohesion Policy, which provides a ready-made delivery framework and could help to speed up local investments to address transport poverty and to develop measures that bring tangible benefits on the ground in the short-term, as well as reinforcing long-term objectives.

Finally, as part of the fight against transport poverty, the CoR called for EU rules to recognise the need for measures to facilitate the re-opening of local and branch rail lines and to encourage the operation of other types of public transport services, notably in less-densely populated cross-border areas, which are often underserved with service provision frequently ending several kilometres from national borders within the single European transport area. They also stressed the essential complementary role of cars in many territories and the need for accompanying measures to support the shift from old, polluting vehicles to cleaner ones, ensuring fair and sustainable mobility across all EU regions and for all citizens.

Quote:

Rapporteur Patrik Schwarcz-Kiefer (HU/EPP), Member of the County Council of Baranya Vármegye: "Transport poverty is a complex phenomenon closely linked to other forms of deprivation. The opinion adopted by the CoR responds to this situation and calls for investments that deliver rapid improvements to service provision on the ground to ensure that the most vulnerable people and families are not left to pay the price of the green transition. It proposes measures for both private and public transport to improve access to essential services. Across all decisions, technological neutrality and cost-effectiveness must remain guiding principles."

Background

• Video and photos from the debate.
• European Committee of the Regions Study on Addressing Transport Poverty.