European Mobility Atlas | Cross-border cooperation for the European mobility turnaround

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European cross-border mobility has a lot to offer. Organised with railways, it can connect citizens from different countries in a climate-friendly, affordable way. A shift of freight and goods transport from roads to rails when crossing borders can play a significant role in bringing down carbon emissions while reducing road congestion and air pollution. At the same time, transnational mobility also faces certain persistent challenges. Whereas providers and policy makers alike stress an increased offer, the quality and frequency of rail and local public transport services across borders is not always matching announcements. Unfortunately, buying tickets for cross-border is still a major issue and currently only possible for very few connections within the EU.

In the context of Russia's war against Ukraine, current EU transport policy debates focus on fossil fuel dependency, security of supply and fuel costs. This will pose additional challenges for cross-border mobility in particular, but also for decarbonisation efforts in the mobility sector in general. Renewable energy and energy efficiency are a prerequisite for new mobility concepts. The goal of energy sovereignty must become an integral part of European mobility policy, including cross-border cooperation with EU neighbour countries.

During this event, we will discuss challenges and opportunities for European cross-border mobility against the backdrop of climate ambitions in the European Green Deal, high fuel prices and risks for social cohesion.

Programme

Welcome and moderation by Martin Keim, Head of the European Energy Transition Programme, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Brussels

Debate with:

• Georges Gilkinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility and the National Railway Company, Belgian Federal Government
• Mona Neubaur, Chairwoman of Alliance 90/The Greens in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia
• Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg, Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA Group), EP Committee on Transport and Tourism

Language: English, German and French (Simultaneous Translation).

Read our European Mobility Atlas 2021: Facts and Figures About Transport and Mobility in Europe, to learn more about best practices and policy recommendations to achieve a sustainable, inclusive and just mobility in the European Union, with a focus on railways, cycling, digitalisation, tackling the climate crisis and the impacts of COVID-19.

For any questions, please contact Anna Trzcińska.

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