Planning sustainable urban mobility in the EU

Key points:

The EESC:

• recommends to develop Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) to improve urban mobility and reduce its environmental impact. The EESC calls on Member States to develop national programmes to assist local and regional authorities with development and implementation of SUMPs through guidance, capacity building and funding, and on the Commission to support the continuation and expansion of CIVINETs;
• highlights SUMPs are key for balanced regional development. Mobilising region’s creativity and social capital is a vital step; organisations of employers, workers and civil society organisations have a key role to play and must be encouraged to contribute to this dialogue. It is important to involve all relevant stakeholders at local, national and EU level in planning, including in cross-border issues;
• recommends when we plan for ‘urban’ mobility, we must consider that the social and economic life of urban areas extends well into suburban, peri-urban and rural areas, and that their views and needs must be taken into account. Lack of efficiency in the mobility system creates and sustains the urban-rural divide and its negative economic, social and political implications. Fairness of the mobility system means that mobility is affordable and does not create privileges that support those who are already in a better position.