The newly appointed EU Transport Commissioner supports e-mobility

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the newly appointed European Union commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, was officially confirmed for a five-year mandate after a three-hour hearing with the TRAN committee of the European Parliament.

The future commissioner supports the views of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that electromobility should reduce emissions from the transport sector in the long term. 

Tzitzikostas stated that he would support the Green Plan measures for road, air, sea and rail transport, but did not go into details.

This includes support for von der Leyen's compromise proposal on use synthetic fuels from renewable energy sources in order to justify the expansion of the production of vehicles with internal combustion engines. 

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What the commissioner does not want to support is the repeal of the indirect decision to phase out combustion engine technology, which some in his parliamentary group are calling for in the interests of industry.

The Union did not ban internal combustion engine in new cars, but local CO2 emissions. This approach is open to all technologies.

Tzitzikostas left open the question of how the EU should support the introduction of electromobility by promoting the leasing of fleets by companies. According to the EU's idea, e-mobility could be established more quickly in the private sector by increasing the supply of affordable used electric cars.

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Sustainable tourism

Speaking about the importance of tourism, Tzitzikostas pointed out that Europe is the world's leading tourist destination and that tourism is the main driver of economic growth, employment and social cohesion.

"Our goal is to improve the sustainability of tourism to ensure its continued development and attraction", he stated, pointing out that Europe is home to more than three million active small and medium-sized tourism businesses, many of which are family-run and operate in sectors such as catering, travel services and transport.

He outlined plans to work with local authorities to develop a comprehensive strategy for sustainable tourism, with a focus on supporting businesses, protecting the environment and community well-being.

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As regards EU funding for tourist companies, which currently amounts to 15 billion euros, Tzitzikostas promised to advocate an increase in the budget and to facilitate access by simplifying procedures.

He concluded his address by referring to the call of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for a new plan for sustainable competitiveness, stressing that "transportation and tourism are two key pillars".

Inter-European transport network

Tzitzikostas highlighted the scale and importance of the European transport sector, saying it consists of 1,4 million companies, of which 99,7 percent are classified as small and medium-sized enterprises.

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He supported their call to cut red tape and committed to rationalization of regulations to encourage growth. 

The central point of his speech was the Inter-European transport network, which covers over 243.000 kilometers high-speed railways.

He said that the improvement of railway infrastructure is essential because of the environmental benefits and emphasized the positioning of trains as a central element in the European transport system.

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He announced plans to introduce a comprehensive initiative for linkage capital and major European cities next year, with the aim of strengthening overall rail connectivity and ensuring that no region is left out.

He pointed out that the completion of the network would facilitate better integration of member states and support future enlargements that include Ukraine, Moldova and Western Balkans.

Focusing on passenger rights and seamless travel, he promised to make the EU market a single one.

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He revealed plans for a digital reservation system for train travel and announced that it would be available by 2025 unique system purchase of tickets that will allow travelers to combine different modes of transportation, such as airplanes and trains, in one transaction.

Automotive industry, shipping and ports

Commissioner Tzitzikostas also referred to significant aspects of his portfolio, including the European automotive industry, which supports 14 million jobs and contributes to a trade surplus of €100 billion.

He emphasized the importance of maintenance competitiveness with the improvement of digitization and green innovations within the sector.

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As for shipping and ports, at the beginning of his mandate he announced his intention to introduce an Integrated Strategy for European ports. He emphasized the strategic importance of ports as gateways for international trade and essential for economic resilience, especially in an unpredictable global landscape.

"Ensuring Europe's connectivity to global trade while strengthening economic autonomy is vital", he said.

He also emphasized the need to adopt real-time data, the importance of artificial intelligence and digital transformation to boost competitiveness in the entire transport industry.

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Safety and rights of workers

He also emphasized his commitment to improving urban mobility and protecting workers' rights, along with strengthening safety standards.

Speaking about railway safety, he mentioned the tragic accident of the Tempi train in Greece in February 2023, a topic raised by several members of the European Parliament during the debate. It's this one accident caused considerable criticism of the Greek government for its security practices.

The session was interrupted by Greek MEPs Maria Zacharia and Kostas Papadakis, but ended with Eliza Vozenberg, president of the TRAN board, confirming the transparency and democratic nature of the process.

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Appointment

International press reports highlighted Tzitzikostas' thorough preparation, composure and good understanding of key EU transport policies. His appointment was approved with opposition only from the far-right bloc, while members of the European Left abstained.

In his opening address to the board, he emphasized the key role that traffic and tourism have in the daily life of EU citizens, connections, economic growth and impact on the environment.

Drawing on his previous experience as President of the European Committee of the Regions, he highlighted his knowledge of European legislative processes and the challenges of local governance.

"Transport and tourism are key to competitiveness and regional development", He said.

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Cover photo: European Commission