Who will be the New Commissioner for Transport and What Will Be His Approaches in the Field of Transport?

The European Commission’s new Commissioner for Transport Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation. As the first Vice President of the European Committee of the Regions and a former Governor, Parliamentarian, and President, this new Commissioner is well-versed in the intricacies of European governance and regional development. His vision for transport emphasizes a dual approach—promoting a green and digital transformation while ensuring accessibility, competitiveness, and inclusivity across the sector.

A Strong Pro-European Background

With a solid foundation in both regional and European governance, the new Commissioner brings a unique perspective to the transport portfolio. His tenure as Governor of Central Macedonia in Greece was marked by significant strides in urban mobility, including initiatives aimed at reducing vehicle emissions, increasing the use of electric vehicles, and promoting active mobility through infrastructure investments such as electric vehicle charging stations and expanded cycling lanes.

His leadership was also instrumental in improving regional connectivity through new maritime and aviation routes, which enhanced both economic development and tourism in the region.

New commissioner’s work in the European Committee of the Regions further honed his ability to bridge the gap between European, national, and regional authorities. This experience has given him a deep understanding of the critical role transport plays in connecting EU citizens, especially in remote regions, and ensuring a sense of belonging to the European project. This background will be invaluable as he works to integrate regional needs into broader EU transport policies.

The Future of European Transport with the new commissioner: Ensuring Sustainability, Competitiveness, and Quality Jobs

As Europe strives to meet its climate goals, transforming the transport sector is pivotal. With the European Green Deal’s ambitious target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 90%, and increasing renewable energy in the sector to 94%, the challenge is substantial. However, by combining strategic action, collaborative efforts, and progressive legislation, it is possible to achieve these goals while ensuring a competitive European transport sector, a thriving workforce, and an accessible and affordable mobility system for all citizens.

Adapting Legislation and Frameworks for Sustainability

A cornerstone of the EU’s approach to sustainable transport lies in the implementation of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. The first step toward achieving these climate objectives is to ensure that the legislative framework is conducive to sustainable investments.

With the prior Commissioner for transport’s work already laying the foundation, there is now an emphasis on creating enabling conditions for innovation and growth in clean transport technologies. Ensuring that the transport sector benefits from affordable, renewable energy sources is essential to achieving the EU’s ambitious goals.

Key actions will include a comprehensive Sustainable Transport Investment Plan, which builds upon the Clean Industrial Deal. This plan will focus on accelerating the production of sustainable fuels, especially for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like aviation and maritime transport. It will also seek to facilitate wider access to electricity for transport, ensuring that the infrastructure needed for the transition is available across Europe.

In addition, the implementation of ambitious global standards will be pursued in cooperation with international organizations like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). These collaborations are crucial not only for addressing the global nature of climate change but also to ensure a level playing field for European transport companies operating in international markets. A global approach ensures that Europe’s competitiveness remains intact while progressing toward shared decarbonization goals.

Building Infrastructure and Supporting Zero-Emission Transport : big challenge for the new commissioner

To support the transition to zero-emission transport, the EU must invest heavily in infrastructure development. A key action will be the swift expansion of user-friendly charging and refueling stations across the continent, with particular attention to aligning energy infrastructure development to meet future demand. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, which governs the build-up of this infrastructure, will be reviewed by 2027 to ensure it meets evolving needs.

For road transport, the push toward a more sustainable future will focus on accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles. Efforts will include fostering the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) within corporate fleets and making EVs more accessible to the public. Simultaneously, investment in rail infrastructure and high-speed rail services will be ramped up to make rail travel a more attractive and sustainable mode of transport.

European cities will also receive support in preparing Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), which will prioritize public transport and active mobility like cycling and walking. These plans will contribute to more sustainable and equitable urban mobility solutions.

Ensuring Workforce Development and Quality Jobs

The EU’s climate and transport goals cannot be achieved without addressing the workforce’s needs. There is an urgent need to tackle the current skills gap in the transport sector, particularly in relation to digitalization and sustainability. Actions to address this will include bolstering reskilling and upskilling initiatives for workers. This will involve intensifying efforts to equip the workforce with the necessary skills to meet the demands of emerging technologies and the green transition.

The Pact for Skills, a collaborative initiative involving stakeholders from key transport sectors such as automotive, maritime, and rail, will be crucial in ensuring the workforce can adapt to changes. By working closely with national authorities and relevant stakeholders, the goal is to ensure a well-trained workforce ready to tackle new challenges in a digitalized and sustainable transport system.

Furthermore, the EU must focus on improving working conditions within the transport sector. Addressing the current shortage of workers will involve making transport professions more attractive, especially to women and young people. By enforcing existing social rules related to worker rights, including better working conditions, improved resting facilities, and safer environments, the EU will ensure that transport remains a viable and attractive career for the future.

Ensuring Affordability and Addressing Social Impact

While the EU works toward decarbonizing transport, it must also ensure that the transition does not lead to social inequalities. For many households, transport already represents a significant portion of their budget. Therefore, addressing issues such as “transport poverty” will be critical to ensuring that the green transition does not disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. This will be done through tailored recommendations and by working with Member States to integrate transport affordability into their Social Climate Plans.

The EU’s commitment to ensuring that citizens have access to affordable, sustainable transport options aligns with its broader goal of achieving social fairness and combating poverty. A comprehensive approach that balances sustainability, connectivity, and social equity will be key to securing a just transition for all.

The Role of Equality in Transport Controls

As experts in the field of transport law, we are particularly concerned about the inequality in transport controls across Europe. From our daily experience, we see a clear division between Eastern and Western European transport companies in terms of enforcement and regulations.

The implementation of the Mobility Package is a critical step toward ensuring equal legislation and controls for all transport operators across the EU. However, there is an urgent need to address the disparities in how controls are executed and how regulations are understood by drivers.

The new Commissioner for transport must ensure that the rules governing controls are applied uniformly across all Member States and that there is clear communication regarding the purpose of these controls. Transparency and consistency in enforcement will help eliminate disparities and foster a more secure and fair environment for transport operators.

Drivers must have a clear understanding of the controls they are subject to and the reasons behind them, ensuring that compliance is not only about regulation but also about building trust and security within the sector.

As experts, we are ready and willing to provide our expertise and support to help ensure that the transport sector feels more secure and prepared for the challenges ahead. We believe that with the right regulatory approach, we can create a transport system that is not only sustainable and competitive but also equitable for all players in the sector, regardless of their geographical location.

Conclusion

The path to a sustainable, competitive, and inclusive transport sector in the EU is complex, but with the right policies and coordinated actions, it is achievable. By focusing on robust infrastructure, empowering citizens with clean transport options, fostering innovation, and ensuring a skilled and fairly compensated workforce, the EU can create a transport system that is not only environmentally sustainable but also socially just and economically competitive.

Achieving these goals will require strong leadership, collaboration across sectors, and continued dialogue with all stakeholders. By implementing the necessary actions and policies, the EU can pave the way for a cleaner, greener, and more resilient transport system that benefits all Europeans.

This approach is backed by the new Commissioner for transport’s deep commitment to sustainability and his vision for a more inclusive, innovative, and competitive transport sector that is ready for the challenges of the future.