Urban mobility
Outgoing EU parliament transport chair Karima Delli talks trains, planes and automobiles
Est. 5minSet to bid farewell to the European Parliament after three successive terms, French Green MEP and chair of the Transport Committee Karima Delli told Euractiv that the biggest achievement of her time there is bringing transport high on the agenda.
EU Commission OKs Stockholm’s new petrol, diesel car-free zone
Est. 3minThe European Commission has approved the creation of an environmental zone in the city centre of Stockholm, where petrol and diesel cars will be banned entirely from 2025.
Tier acquires Dott in bid to become European micro-mobility champion
Est. 3minFollowing recent profit losses, e-bike and e-scooter start-ups Tier and Dott announced on Wednesday (10 January) a preliminary merger agreement that seeks to make the new entity the 'European champion' of micro-mobility.
French city is latest in Europe to make public transport free
Est. 2minThe French city of Montpellier on Thursday (21 December) became the latest European metropolis to allow all its residents to ride public transport for free.
Lawmakers narrowly back mandatory medical checks for EU driving licences
Est. 5minBy a single vote, the European Parliament’s transport committee agreed its position on the EU driving licence directive update on Thursday (7 December), supporting controversial provisions that would make medical checks obligatory to obtain a new licence.
EU Parliament backs rules to ensure foreign drivers can’t escape traffic fines
Est. 5minLawmakers in the European Parliament’s transport committee voted on Wednesday (29 November) to make it easier to enforce penalties on motorists visiting from other EU countries for traffic violations - though local authorities say the measures do not go far enough.
How Europe can unlock the huge potential of ‘batteries on wheels’
Est. 5minA market failure is preventing EV owners from using their cars’ batteries to power their homes and back up local grids. Following up on its Grid Action Plan, the Commission needs to propose the necessary regulatory measures to give drivers a right to bidirectional charging, writes William Todts.
Tesla takes legal action against Sweden over licence plate boycott
Est. 3minTesla has decided to sue the Swedish Transport Administration and Postnord over the ongoing strike by IF Metall and other unions in Sweden, which has prevented the car giant from obtaining licence plates for its cars. A month ago, the IF …
EU lawmakers agree on proposal to boost uptake of clean trucks and buses
Est. 5minThe European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted Tuesday (24 October) to support Commission targets to reduce the carbon footprint of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), making it a near certainty that clean trucks will make up the majority of new HDVs post-2040.
Cycling gets boost from Brussels with EU declaration
Est. 5minEU transport commissioner Adina Vălean launched the European Declaration on Cycling on Wednesday (4 October), signalling Brussels’ willingness to throw its political weight behind travelling by two wheels.
Lack of EU-made batteries could delay end of fossil fuel cars: Report
Est. 5minThe EU is at risk of long-term dependence on outside nations for batteries, slowing the switch to zero-emission vehicles and extinguishing the bloc’s ambition to become a global battery powerhouse, a new European Court of Auditors report has found.
Top EU Court strikes down Barcelona’s strict taxi-on-demand rules
Est. 3minA European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling published on Thursday (8 June) slammed Barcelona’s strict private hire vehicles rules as “contrary to EU law”, in a move that could have EU-wide repercussions.
EU’s air quality law fails to align with WHO air pollution limits
Est. 5minIn drafting the clean air law, the European Commission was mistaken to overlook the impact of low and zero-emission zones on cutting air pollution, writes Alex Keynes.
Uber Files: Top official ‘cannot recall’ actioning ‘kill switch’, email proves he did
Est. 4minUber’s Senior Vice-President Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty testified at the French ‘Uber Files’ parliamentary investigation committee on Thursday (25 May) that he could not recall an email, seen by EURACTIV, whereby he personally requested actioning the data-destruction ‘kill switch’ tool.
Italy tightens rules on e-scooters in bid to reduce accidents
Est. 2minThe Italian government is working on a new highway code to respond to the statistical increase in road accidents, focusing on scooters, announced Italian Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini on Tuesday (23 May). The minister’s proposals include harsher drunk or drug driving …
Dublin ranked last among European capitals for public transport ticketing
Est. 5minDublin, London, Amsterdam, and Paris are among the most expensive and complicated capital cities in Europe to purchase public transport tickets, a new ranking by environmental group Greenpeace has found.
Lawmakers must deliver a driver-centric charging network
Est. 4minTo achieve a robust charging network for electric vehicles, lawmakers must ensure that EU legislation sets the right conditions, write Sigrid de Vries, Philippe Vangeel, Lucie Mattera, and André Kaufung.
Car rental companies frustrated at ‘growing exclusion’ from EU meetings
Est. 4minAvis, Europcar, and Hertz have written to the European Commission to share their frustration at being left out of EU-organised urban mobility discussions.
Laid-off autoworkers encouraged to join Europe’s booming bicycle industry
Est. 5minAs the automotive sector braces for job losses in the wake of increased competition and the end of the combustion engine, bicycle manufacturers are encouraging redundant workers to enter the growing cycling industry.
EU batteries to be the world’s greenest under new rules
Est. 5minBatteries produced in Europe will be the most sustainable in the world, under new rules agreed upon by EU lawmakers on Friday (9 December).
To reach zero-emission goal, Uber urges drivers to purchase EVs
Est. 6minGlobal ride-hailing giant Uber has set a target of 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2030 in Europe and by 2040 in all markets – an ambition that requires their self-employed drivers to ditch their petrol and diesel cars for cleaner technologies.
CPK’s project giants
Est. 5minThe company Centralny Port Komunikacyjny is selecting and signing contracts with key suppliers, from the point of view of the new CPK airport construction. These will provide design documentation for the passenger terminal, railway station and public transport interchange, runways and taxiways, air traffic control tower, cargo terminals, hotels, office buildings and multi-story parking lots.
Tech Brief: US views on AI, DSA preparation, Uber hearing
Est. 20minWelcome to EURACTIV’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. “Many of our comments are prompted by our growing cooperation in this area under the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council …
Uber Files whistleblower wants ambitious EU law for the ‘powerless’
Est. 5minUber Files whistleblower took centre stage and slammed Uber’s “disproportionate” power over EU policy-making at a European Parliament hearing. The European social agenda is a “threat” to Uber, and one the company aims to take down, he added.