PRESS RELEASE - 14.12.2021

The European Commission today unveiled new plans for more efficient and sustainable travel, part of a larger EU strategy on ‘sustainable and smart mobility’. For the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), this is a good step towards cleaning up transport.

Monique Goyens, BEUC Director General, commented:

On long-distance and cross-border rail
“It is good that the European Commission promotes taking the train. Today’s plans are a first step towards easier ticketing and better passenger rights, which are needed to make rail truly convenient.

“The European Commission rightfully notes passengers need to be protected throughout their rail journey, which current legislation doesn’t sufficiently do. To illustrate, I am currently not protected if the operators of my multi-leg train trip are not a 100% owned by the same parent company. Travellers who combine different types of transport, say a train and a coach, only have rights for the individual legs of their journey. BEUC urges the EU to change this by legislating on passenger rights for such journeys.”

On data-sharing in mobility (the Intelligent Transport Systems Directive)
“Data sharing between mobility operators can help travellers combine various types of transport more easily and is a first step to better ticketing systems. At the same time, the EU must ensure consumers will always be able to decide which data they share, and with whom.

“Today’s proposal doesn’t address how the data specifically generated by connected features of cars is used. Consumer organisations are increasingly concerned about the absence of legislation on in-vehicle data. Urgent action is needed to ensure consumers have control over the data generated by their own cars. This should be consumers’ choice, not the one of car manufacturers.”

On improving urban mobility
“Promoting alternatives to cars is a good idea. BEUC supports the EU’s willingness to promote sustainable urban mobility plans. Such plans can incentivise cycling and walking, the greenest and cheapest forms of mobility out there.”

EU ‘sustainable and smart mobility’ strategy: a consumer status update

What is the EU already doing, and what does BEUC think about it?

• Setting targets to lower greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions from cars
• Legislating for more electric car charging infrastructure, and making this easier to use

What should the EU also be doing, in BEUC’s view? 

• Create passenger rights for journeys that combine different types of transport
• Issue ‘EURO7’ rules to lower air pollutant emissions from cars
• Legislate on access to in-vehicle data and functions

More on sustainable mobility for Europeans

• BEUC’s view on cleaning up transport in Europe (abridged version)
• BEUC’s latest opinion piece on sustainable mobility

ENDS