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Future eu transport strategy Driving force Cities have a crucial role in cutting transport emissions across the EU, writes Gábor Demszky T Gábor Demszky is mayor of Budapest he commission communication on a sustainable future for transport summarises the challenges that the transport sector is facing, especially those which are connected to future demographic trends and to environmental changes. However, there is one aspect which is not given enough importance: the social (equity) role of transport. For the poorer members of the pop- ulation, public transport is the only accessible form of mobility and if this is not available or is of bad quality, whole areas can be excluded from the normal functioning of society includ- ing access to job opportunities, which is of key importance in the Lisbon strategy. It seems to be a common approach in commission documents that only positive strategies (such as technological innovation, voluntary change in behaviour, organisational innovation) are considered acceptable scenarios, while regulatory elements are discussed as less desirable, to be applied only as a last resort. Any efforts to tax or charge transport modes for the external effects they cause are called transport avoidance and are rejected by operators and the economy. In my opinion, the desirable future of Europe an inclusive society connected by an integrated and sustainable transport system can not be achieved only through positive strategies. Cities must also consider negative public interventions by taxation and financial regulation. The behaviour of transport users can only become more sustain- able if more polluting forms of transport are charged for the external costs they cause. A future EU toolbox should also include these types of intervention, allow- ing for local flexibility to decide whether to implement financial regulation. The case of the post-communist cities shows that extreme administrative decen- tralisation is not suitable for integrated public transport. Metropolitan coop- eration around large cities is needed, otherwise small suburban settlements are in a position to veto everything. This is also an aspect where the EU should help the future toolbox should contain advice on metropolitan level governance and transport coordination. Of course documents are not enough financing must follow. Metropolitan areas and cities are key for planning and financing, and a new urban mobility policy should include dedicated EU funding to urban transport projects, acknowledging that cities represent the first and last link of the transport chain for goods and passengers. Such a framework should account for differences across Europes macro-regions, allowing flexibility. Budapest won the European mobility week (EMW) award last year. In addition to many events and activities to promote sustainable urban transport in the EMW, Budapest (a member of the Eurocities mobility forum) takes important permanent measures to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable transport, such as expanding the downtown pedestrian area, increasing parking fees in the city centre, improving metro and tram infrastruc- ture and services, and introducing new bicycle lanes and park-and-ride facili- ties. There is a lot more to do: Budapest aims to introduce a congestion charging system, which takes into account emis- sions. Car users and media are strongly against such regulations so a European toolbox promoting such measures would be extremely helpful. Cities play a key role in driving the EU economy, protecting our environ- ment and combating social exclusion. Urbanisation trends and solutions must be mainstreamed into all the main challenges outlined in the commissions new 10-year vision for transport policy, and the focus on urban mobility within the EU strategy for the future of transport needs to be emphasised more (especially in view of the upcoming white paper on transport in 2010). In fact, city governments should be recognised as bodies managing key com- ponents of the European transport chain and as catalysts for sustainable mobility and growth across the EU. 28 PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE 7 September 2009 Issue 293 7 September 2009 United we stand Jerzy Buzek on the reunification of Europe, his priorities for parliament and why MEPs must waste no time in appointing a new commission president It is my deep conviction that the EU at a time of crisis cannot afford to continue in a vacuum Future transpor The Impact of the Broadband Policy Framework on Jobs and the Economy by Dr. Raul Katz, Director of Business Strategy Research, Columbia Institute for Tele-Information Adjunct Professor, Columbia Business School umerous governments around the world have recently made highly visible announcements rega these lines, widespread agreement exists among policy makers, the private sector and academic researchers that the existing regulation in Europe does not provide the necessary incentives and planning certainty required to rapidly build up a costly new complete-coverage broadband infrastructure. In a Issue 293 7 September 2009 newsanalysis 6 United we stand With the financial crisis, climate change and the Lisbon treaty at the top of the agenda, MEPs have their work cut out for them this term. Jerzy Buzek on the key priorities for parlia- ment and why MEPs must waste no time in appointing a new catherinestihler Editorial team Managing editor Brian Johnson Martin Banks Martha Moss Francesca Ross Louise Tait International Press Centre Boulevard Charlemagne 1 Box 2 Brussels 1041 Tel +32 (0)2 285 0828 newsdesktheparliament. www.theparliament.com Editorial board Editor Catherine Stihler MEP Edi Parliament president Jerzy Buzek (centre) with president of the European council Frederik Reinfeldt and commission president José Manuel Barroso United we stand With the financial crisis, climate change and the Lisbon treaty at the top of the agenda, MEPs have their work cut out for them this term. newsanalysis EUs will to continue to take measures to support the green shoots of economic recovery. Second, on climate change, I recall the crucial role the European parliament played in adopting the EUs climate change package in record time (just 11 months). The package aims to ensure that the EU parliament NEWS Barroso unveils EU vision José Manuel Barroso has unveiled a transformational agenda for Europes future over the next five years. A wide-ranging document setting out his vision for the next legislative term was sent to parliaments political groups last week. They will assess whether ne wsanalysis Economic crisis presents golden opportunity for Swedish presidency With unemployment in the eurozone hitting a 10-year high in July, Swedens enterprise minister Maud Olofsson has called for a new vision to tackle the recession. According to figures released by the EUs statistics office Parliament Magazine Swedish EU presidency reception All photos: David Plas & the European parliament Welcome aboard s Swedish ministers descended on Brussels last week, to discuss the presidencys priorities with MEPs, Cecilia Malmström promised to work with the EU in an open, accessible and fun way. newsanalysis 7 September 2009 PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE 11 Lisbon treaty irish referendum Pat Cox joins cyclists in St. Stephen s Green Dublin to launch the ON Eur Bike a Yes vote to Lisbon treaty, cycle tour around Ireland Lisbon is vital to the future of the EU. The EU is vital to the future of Ireland. Lisbon is vital to Ireland. For us, it is as simp NEWSANALYSIS Talking trade Stockwell Day believes that a strong economic partnership between Canada and the EU would boost bilateral trade between the two allies and ensure future prosperity A s Canada pursues its vigorous trade strategy abroad, one of our top priorities is a stronger economic part- New faces Across the great divide Danuta Hübner is the latest EU commissioner to jump sides and join parliament. Martin Banks reports on Polands new high-profile deputy olish journalist Dominka Pszczolkowska declared earlier this summer that Danuta Hübner, the commissioner for regional policy is def newsanalysis Unofficially, there were three candidates: Hübner and two from a much more different background. Even so, Abbott MEPs, Janusz Lewandowski and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. One speaks particularly highly of his former boss, describing parliamentary source said that when it became apparent that h New faces the Economist said of Michel, If they gave out prizes for straight talking in politics, Michel would already be a shoo-in for this years gold medal. Michel told the Parliament Magazine that as an MEP he will be particularly outspoken on a range of issues, including his opposition to eurosc newsanalysis Too little too late Stocks of bluefin tuna are near collapse, and the EU must act now to ensure it is around for future generations to enjoy, says Struan Stevenson major row is brewing in Brussels over the future of Atlantic bluefin tuna, as it faces near extinction as a result of overf BLUEFIN TUNA disaster assistance Struan Stevenson is a a senior vice-president of parliaments fisheries committee halved since the 1990s. Many of these immature animals are being routinely herded into large offshore cages and fattened until they are ready for slaughter, effectively ending their ab newsanalysis tion centre in Taipei to get an overview of the casualties and destruction. They travelled to southern Taiwan, the hardest-hit disaster zone, to see for themselves the severity of the damage. The experts focused on assessing the need for assistance in water sanitising, relief supply dis Future EU transport strategy Commission white paper Bright ideas T There are many challenges facing the transport industry, but the commission hopes to ensure it has a bright future as the engine of the European economy, writes Antonio Tajani ransport is an essential component of the European econo policyfocus combining the use of sea travel or rail where these are more appropriate. In addition a better pricing system should be introduced that reflects the negative impact transport can have, such as pollution. This way, transport operators and citizens would be able to identify which transport Future EU transport strategy Green corridors ociety is currently facing two problems which we must take seriously: the economic crisis and climate change. This twin crisis ought to be handled in an offensive way. Europe should seize the opportu- nity to revitalise and renew its economy in order to f policyfocus contribute to safe and environmentally-sound transport, with the aim of fostering the use of both new and estab- lished technologies. Within the framework of TEN-T special green corridors also should be designated. In such green corridors, different modes of transport should offer the op Future EU transport strategy Move with the times Europes transport sector must move with the times if it is to cope with the demands of an increasingly mobile society, writes Brian Simpson 24 PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE 7 September 2009 T ransport is a key policy area. Virtually every citizen is a consumer policyfocus The transport sector not only determines how efficiently and at what cost goods and people move around, but also has a major impact on a series of other areas such as energy and environmental policy and, of course, on the operation of the single market which underpins our economy So the Future Eu transport strategy Seas of change Clean and efficient transport and the safety of workers should be at the heart of transport policy, says Anne Jensen T Anne Jensen is a member of parliaments budgets committee and a substitute on the transport and tourism committee he transport sector is c policyfocus Get moving Jos Dings thinks the commission neednt have bothered coming up with a transport strategy for all their suggestions are worth. Instead, he has some of his own Y ou might be forgiven for not having noticed, but the European commission is reviewing its future transport policy. Ba Future eu transport strategy Driving force Cities have a crucial role in cutting transport emissions across the EU, writes Gábor Demszky T Gábor Demszky is mayor of Budapest he commission communication on a sustainable future for transport summarises the challenges that the transport sector is fac The Parliament Magazines in association with supported by The challenge of sustainable transport to, from and within cities 2 Day conference, 7-8 September 2009 Committee of the Regions, Brussels 30 From the ground up Setting the tone for the green theme of the conference on sustainable urban develo Green Streets From the ground up illions of European citizens live and work in urban environments and this modern reality makes mobility a major challenge for Europes cities. Adding to the mix, those seeking to address these challenges must consider the ambitious EU proposals on reducing green- hous specialreport the other basic principles behind that method. The innova- tive element of the concept is the economic effect of creating green areas. We hope that planting the right vegetation in the right way in the right location will give the maximum effect on the environment. Therefore a differen Launch of Regions of Connected Knowledge (RoCK) Why international, interoperable and consumer friendly rail services are so important for knowledge regions. n the first Green Streets conference day (September 7th) the European RoCk (Regions of Connected Knowledge) project, co-funded by Interreg IVB, O The Maastricht Hasselt Light rail connection is a new passenger connection using part of an old freight line to connect the two university cities. To run Belgian light rail vehicles on Dutch tracks, signalling and safety systems have to be updated. Transmanche Metro is a new inter-regional rail s Green Streets Going urban With urbanisation on the increase, Paul Bevan says addressing the mobility of Europes cities is of major strategic importance T hree quarters of Europes population is urban and according to the commission, that figure will have risen to 84 per cent by 2050. Cities are there specialreport City governments have to strive hard to reach that greener goal, and using energy more efficiently in how we live, work and travel in cities is the key to reducing our carbon footprint to create buyers consortiums can help increase this market demand. It is important that the choice of Green Streets Electrified thinking Giles Chichester, a member of the parliaments industry, energy and research committee, will be discussing cars in the sustainable city at Green Streets. He talked to Francesca Ross about what it really means to be sustainable What is your interest in sustainable tr specialreport can moderate peoples behaviour and so we can move around more efficiently. In what other ways do you think we need to move forward? One of my recurring interests has been in the development of cars which are much lighter. When you think about it, its crazy to have a car weighing half a Autogas in Europe: Moving Towards 10 by 2020 What if Autogas were to fulfill its potential? LLY AD THE BENEFITS WILL REA D UP : The EU can and should lead the way in exploiting the vast and often untapped potential of Autogas in Europe. Want to know how we ll get from here to there? www.aegpl.eu To receive your hard copy of the Autogas Roadmap, contact the AEGPLs Office Manager at christine.molinaaegpl. Green Streets A hard road to travel More political will is needed if Europe is to set tough environmental standards in transport, says Oliver Mietzsch T he commission recently published its communica- tion A sustainable future for transport to pave the way for a new transport white paper. The commis specialreport as tighter noise standards, need to be introduced, and the polluters pay principle has to become an integral part of infrastructure financing. In many cities and urban areas, low emission or green zones are already in place in order to help accelerate the replacement cycle of vehicles, Green Streets Dr Jeffrey Seisler is CEO of Clean Fuels Consulting suffer from concerns about fuel storage (and, thus, vehicle range). All need to modify or develop a supporting fuelling infrastructure. Only LPG and natural gas are cheaper than petroleum. The key question is: can the EU develop a bal European Health Forum Gastein: Financial Crisis as key theme Günther Leiner points out. The events of the EHFG and the issues formulated there often shape EU health policy. Subsequently the European Health Forum Gastein has developed into an indispensable institution in the scope of European health Green Streets The Parliament Magazines in association with supported by The challenge of sustainable transport to, from and within cities 2 Day conference, 7-8 September 2009 Committee of the Regions, Brussels Monday, 7 September, 2009 8:309:30: Registration Registration and breakfast buffet. Exhibi specialreport 11:451:15: Session 2 On your bike: Non-motorised transport in the modern city Gilles Vesco, Member of the city board in charge of urban mobility and vice-president of Greater Lyon Derek Osborn, Vice-president of the European Economic and Social Committee s (EESC) Sustainable Developmen The medicine her doctor prescribes should be the medicine she receives. The proliferation of counterfeit medicines poses a real and growing threat to patients around Prepared April 2009. ALL/ELB/05/2009/184 the world. Over a two month period in 2008 customs from the EU Member States seized more than insideeu Open dialogue gathering of three separate organisations in parliament last week represented a unique oppor- tunity to discuss crucial issues which will be at the heart of the upcoming European legislative agenda. That is the view of Wolf Klinz, who has just taken over the chairmanship of th Forum of Fora New advances in ICT are moving at such an astonishing rate that events such as the forum of fora are vital in spreading such understanding of the industry. So says Cristina Monti, director of the European Internet Foundation, one of the three bodies repre- sented at the reception in pa insideeu Balanced debate Well organised forums can help boost MEPs understanding and enhance their ability to make the right decisions, writes Malcolm Harbour uropean policy making is becoming more complex and challenging. MEPs are faced, on a daily basis, with complex dossiers requiring them to mas Forum of Fora These forums give parliamentarians the chance to meet, and debate with, experts in their field The Forum for the Automobile and Society The Forum for the Automobile and Society is the leading Bruissels debating arena for issues relevant to the automobile and its societal effects. Since ge.com W I T H 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 E M P L O Y E E S W O R L D W I D E , W E P U T I M A G I N AT I O N TO WORK TO DE VELOP TECHNOLOGIES FOR A C L E A N E R, H E A LT H I E R A N D BET TER WORLD N O W. EDEN Discover Europes Hidden Treasures Do you long for a destination that is known for its local charm, its beautiful landscapes and amazing history? Is it a place where the locals respect their lands and will do anything to protect them from harm your hearts desire? Well, in Europe, these possibili