Debate: EU response to the transport poverty
Date: WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Adina-Ioana Vălean
Language: EN

Despite the lack of an exact definition, transport poverty generally refers to the inability of accessing mobility services either due to the cost, or because the services do not exist. It is not necessarily referring exclusively to those who cannot afford the access to transportation. We should also read it in a larger perspective, including those households where transport represents an important share of the family budget, and they are very sensitive to increase in prices of transport and mobility in general.  Indeed, whereas the single market in transport has increased connectivity, mobility remains expensive for people with lower incomes and is not sufficiently accessible for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. In rural, peripheral, remote areas, including the outermost regions and islands, improved public transport links and access to affordable connectivity in general is essential to guarantee lean mobility for all.  Mobility poverty can jeopardise access to products and services at a competitive price, as well as to social and cultural activities. But, more importantly, it can be an obstacle to access medical care, education and employment for citizens. In this context, mobility poverty is increasingly a concern, in particular for vulnerable groups.  In our sustainable and smart mobility strategy, we are very clear on the importance of transport being available and affordable for all. Our attention shall be focused on making sure it remains available for vulnerable groups.  The European Pillar of Social Rights is the European compass to make sure that a green and digital transition is socially fair and just. The pillar lists transport among the essential services that everyone shall have access to, and underscores the necessity to support people in need to access them. As announced in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the Commission will present next year a report on access to essential services. It will also include a mapping of existing national and EU measures, supporting access for people at risk of poverty and social exclusion. In the context of the Fit for 55 package the Commission has proposed a new social climate fund to address specifically the social impact of the green transition on vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and transport users, arising from the introduction of emission trading in the buildings and road transport sectors. This is of particular importance to ensure that the transition to a climate-neutral economy is just and leaves no one behind, and to ensure its social acceptance. Once adopted by the legislator, it will provide funding to Member States to grant temporary income support and allow for subsidising to support investments intended to reduce vulnerable groups’ reliance on fossil fuels. It should offer the possibility of facilitating the purchase of zero and low-emission vehicles, or strengthening other sustainable modes of transport, including public transport, active modes of transport or shared mobility solutions, particularly in rural and remote areas.  Investment in zero and low-emission mobility and transport also features in Member States’ resilience and recovery plans, and various other EU funds provide ample possibilities to support the transformation driven by the European Green Deal from different angles: regional funds, the Just Transition Fund, the Modernisation Fund for Lower Income Member States and the Innovation Fund. The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) will contribute equally with EUR 1.5 billion in the next three years to help roll out the necessary infrastructure for citizens to be able to charge their electric cars.  Yesterday, the Commission adopted a proposal on a Council recommendation to address the social and labour aspects of the climate transition. The recommendation aims at a fair transition towards climate neutrality to ensure positive employment outcomes and benefits of the green transition, as well as for garnering public support.  Regarding transport poverty, we want to better understand and map those in difficulty as a result of increasing costs in transport. We are looking for further research and evidence, better monitoring and assessment of adequate access to essential services, including transport. Transport poverty due to the lack of transport services can also be linked to poor connectivity for remote or rural areas.  Yesterday, the Commission also adopted a legislative proposal revising the current TEN-T Regulation that sets the foundation of a European transport infrastructure. Our network should allow seamless mobility and accessibility for all users, in particular people in situations of vulnerability. And, while a local and regional connectivity is certainly a competence of national authorities and administrations that are closer on the ground, we want to improve the accessibility of passengers where local and regional public transport connects with long-distance transport in train stations, ports and airports, with particular attention for vulnerable groups of transport users, including persons with disabilities, with reduced mobility, and people living in remote regions. In the revision of TEN-T we have paid attention to areas in Europe where maritime and air connections play an essential role to ensure connectivity, outermost regions in particular, but not only. The revision ensures a better representation of ports and airports in those regions, and the CEF allows for more favourable conditions for projects, with cofinancing rates up to 70% in outermost regions.  Member States also have a tailor-made tool at hand to combat transport poverty granting and, if need be, compensating public-service obligations under non-discriminatory and transparent conditions for the public transport operators. This enables them to provide public transport services essential for connectivity where there is a demand but no supply. It is also important that transport services are not only affordable and available, but also accessible to everyone. For persons with disabilities or with reduced mobility, the main problem in accessing transport services is the lack of accessible vehicles, barriers in transport stations and inadequate transport information systems.  I want to thank Parliament again for its support earlier this year when adopting the Regulation for Rail Passengers’ Rights, which gives extended rights to persons with disabilities and reduced mobility. They will now have better access to information. The rules on liability of railway companies have been further reinforced when they take care of the mobility equipment of persons with reduced mobility when travelling, which is critical in their daily life.  Now when assessing the current legal framework on passenger rights and TRMs earlier this year, we have found that there are still gaps. While some rules would need clarification, in the coming weeks we will also launch an impact assessment to review the legislative framework on passenger rights and TRMs when using air, water, boat and bus and coach transport, and in addition, will propose legislation by 2022 on the provision and use of commercially sensitive data for multimodal digital mobility services, which will also improve journey planning for persons with reduced mobility.  I rest here and I am looking forward to listening to your opinion. I trust that working together we can address this issue which is becoming more and more worrying.