write an article out this information and give a new title(Note this article has to be about malta do not deviate about other european countries:


Title: Malta ranks second in Greenpeace study of public transport ticketing
caption: Separately, Valletta tops list of best practices with capitals Tallinn, Luxembourg


Malta placed second in a Greenpeace ranking of public transport ticketing systems across 30 European countries, scoring full points for its free service across the island.

Valletta, meanwhile, topped a separate list, together with Estonia’s Tallinn and Luxembourg’s capital, ranking European cities’ ticketing simplicity, prices and social discounts.

This first report on so-called ‘climate tickets’ claims that such a ticketing system is gaining ground in Europe.
The environmental group defines ‘climate tickets’ as affordable, long-term tickets that are valid on all means of public transport in a country or region. By making public transport affordable for all, people can switch from private cars to greener forms of mobility, helping tackle the climate crisis.

It looked at the systems adopted by the EU’s 27 members, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, and, separately, their capitals, scoring points for the simplicity of the ticketing system, the full price of long-term tickets, discounts for socially disadvantaged groups and the VAT rate.

Luxembourg, which scored full points, became the first country in Europe to make all public transport – including trains – free. As of 2020, travellers do not need tickets to travel on public transport.

Malta placed second with 88 out of 100 points. As of last October, the island made all public transport in the country free of charge, except express bus lines and ferries.


Despite public bus transport being free, tickets still exist, and passengers need to get a free personalised ticket.

Luxembourg (100) and Malta (88) – the two EU states with the smallest population according to the latest Eurostat data – were followed by Austria (81 points), Germany (69 points) and Cyprus (63 points).

At the very bottom of the list, Bulgaria did not score a single point, while Croatia and Greece got two points each.

Croatia received its sole two points for a pilot project offering free transport for primary and secondary school students and Ukrainian refugees on all trains. Norway tied with Latvia third from bottom, with three points. Greece scored its only two points because VAT has been temporarily reduced until June 30 to 13%.

Norway scored its only three points for the moderate VAT rate of 12%. The Scandinavian country has a dense railway network, but there is no climate ticket, nor an annual ticket for all railway lines.

Dublin, London, Amsterdam, Paris with lowest scores
In its concluding remarks, Greenpeace says its analysis shows there is no ideal climate ticket. 

“Only a handful of countries have introduced something that could be called a climate ticket or something close to it. 

“Cities are generally more progressive than countries… almost all cities have long-term tickets or subscriptions for all means of transport, and all cities offer discounts for socially disadvantaged groups. However, in some cities, the regular ticket is clearly too expensive.”

Dublin (36), London (40), Amsterdam (48) and Paris (56) got the lowest scores in the city rank, while Valletta, Luxembourg and Tallinn got full points (100).

Although London allows people aged over 66 to travel for free after 9am on weekdays, its ticket fared as the most expensive across Europe.

The price of a regular public transport ticket, following price level adjustment would cost a Londoner €4.11 a day. This is the most expensive across the continent, followed by €3.16 in Dublin and €2.34 in Paris.

Excluding cities with free public transport, Prague, Bratislava and Rome’s tickets are the cheapest at 60c, 67c and 68c respectively.

Rome might increase the prices substantially this year, however, Greenpeace notes that many countries and cities have made public transport more affordable in recent weeks, months and years.

“In doing so, these progressive countries and cities have set a Europe-wide trend towards climate tickets. The political and public discussion about climate tickets has started in many countries, including Belgium and France. 


“Even if the introduction of climate tickets, as in Austria or Germany, takes some time and always requires public funding, reducing the costs of public transport can be a quick and easy way to shift people from cars to trains and buses, and it helps combat the cost-of-living crisis and growing transport poverty. What all countries can do very quickly is reduce or abolish VAT on public transport as a first step to make tickets cheaper.”

Legally, the VAT on public transport tickets can be reduced to zero, as is already the case in Denmark, Malta, and (temporarily) Finland, the report adds.

Press Release from Greenpeace:

Title: Public transport too expensive in many european country

Brussels – New analysis by Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe has ranked public transport affordability and simplicity in 30 European countries and their capitals, and shows that it is too expensive in many places. Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Norway scored worst in the ranking of national transport tickets, while Dublin, London, Paris and Amsterdam ranked worst for the capitals. [1] 

The analysis comes days after Germany and Hungary’s new low-cost nationwide travel cards came into effect on 1 May.

Greenpeace is calling on national and local governments to introduce affordable ‘climate tickets’ for all public transport, and for the European Commission to facilitate this – with a view to introducing a Europe-wide single climate ticket in the future. German transport minister Volker Wissing last month expressed support for a pan-European public transport ticket similar to the new Deutschlandticket.

Greenpeace EU transport campaigner Lorelei Limousin said: “Affordable public transport is a necessity, but many governments treat it like a luxury good. Millions of people rely on buses, trams and trains to get to work and school, to meet their families and friends, to participate in society in a sustainable way. Governments must introduce simple and affordable ‘climate tickets’ for public transport, to cut people’s bills and to reduce the oil use driving our planet towards climate disaster.”

Public transport as a luxury good

Public transport tickets in the EU are taxed at an average of 11% VAT, which is still higher than many other basic services and necessities. Six EU countries currently tax public transport as much as jewellery or luxury watches. [2]

At the same time, the VAT on cross-border airline tickets in the EU is at 0% and kerosene for aeroplanes is also not taxed, which keeps the price of polluting transport low, while climate-friendly transport remains expensive.

More needed to make transport simple and affordable

Apart from Luxembourg and Malta, which made domestic public transport free, only Austria, Germany and Hungary have introduced relatively affordable nationwide tickets, costing less than €3 per day. Around two thirds of the countries analysed do not have country-wide long-term travel passes at all.

Greenpeace is calling on national and local governments to implement or improve their climate tickets, and for the European Commission to provide guidance and encouragement. National governments and the EU institutions should begin preparations for an EU-wide climate ticket which could be used for cross-border travel. To fund these services, and to shift incentives away from the most polluting forms of travel, Greenpeace is calling on national governments and the EU to end the tax exemptions for international flights and for aviation fuel, and to further improve and expand their existing public transport networks. 

Notes

[1] Country ranking: Luxembourg (#1), Malta (#2), Austria (#3), Germany (#4), Cyprus (#5), Spain (#6), Switzerland (#7), Hungary (#8), Netherlands (#9), Estonia (#10), Czech Republic (#11), Belgium (#12),  Ireland (#13), Slovenia (#14), UK (#15), Denmark (#16), Portugal (#17), Sweden (#17), Poland (#19), Lithuania (#19), Finland (#21), France (#21), Italy (#21), Slovakia (#21), Romania (#25), Latvia (#26), Norway (#26), Greece (#28), Croatia (#28), Bulgaria (#30).

Capital city ranking: Tallinn (#1), Luxembourg (#1), Valletta (#1), Prague (#4), Bratislava (#5), Madrid (#6), Rome (#7), Vienna (#8), Athens (#9), Sofia (#10), Nicosia (#11), Warsaw (#12), Brussels (#13), Ljubljana (#14), Lisbon (#15), Budapest (#16), Riga (#17), Vilnius (#18), Bern (#19), Oslo (#20), Helsinki (#21), Zagreb (#22), Berlin (#23), Copenhagen (#24), Stockholm (#25), Bucharest (#26), Paris (#27), Amsterdam (#28), London (#29), Dublin (#30).

[2] In six EU countries, the standard VAT rate (which is the highest in the country) is applied both to public transport and luxury goods. These countries are Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Slovakia, Croatia and Hungary.