BRUSSELS – A new analysis by Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe has ranked the ease and cost of public transport in thirty European countries and their capitals, showing that it is too expensive in many places. Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Norway scored worst in the national transport fare rankings, while Dublin, London, Paris and Amsterdam ranked worst for capitals. (1)
The analysis comes days after new nationwide low-cost travel cards in Germany and Hungary went into effect on May 1.
Greenpeace is calling on national and local governments to introduce affordable “climate tickets” for all public transport, and the European Commission to facilitate this – with a view to introducing a single Europe-wide climate ticket in the future. German Transport Minister Volker Vissing last month expressed support for a pan-European public transport ticket similar to the new Deutschland ticket.
“Affordable public transport is essential, but many governments treat it as a luxury good,” said Lorelei Limousin, transport campaigner at Greenpeace EU. “Millions of people depend on buses, trams and trains to get to work and school, to meet their families and friends, and to share “In society in a sustainable way. Governments must introduce simple and affordable ‘climate tickets’ for public transport, to lower people’s bills and reduce the use of oil that is pushing our planet towards climate catastrophe.”
Public transportation as a luxury good
Public transport tickets in the EU are taxed at a rate of 11% VAT, which is still higher than many other basic services and necessities. Six EU countries currently tax public transport as much as they do on luxury jewelry or watches. (2)
Meanwhile, the VAT on cross-border air tickets in the EU is 0%, and there is no tax on kerosene used in aircraft, keeping prices for polluting transport low, while climate-friendly transport remains expensive.
More is needed to make transportation simple and affordable
Apart from Luxembourg and Malta, which made local public transport free, only Austria, Germany and Hungary offered relatively affordable tickets nationwide, costing less than €3 per day. About two-thirds of the countries analyzed do not have nationwide long-term travel passes at all.
Greenpeace calls on national and local governments to implement or improve their climate tickets, and the European Commission to provide guidance and encouragement. National governments and EU institutions should start preparations to issue an EU-wide climate ticket that can be used for cross-border travel. To fund these services, and shift incentives away from more polluting forms of travel, Greenpeace is calling on national governments and the European Union to end tax breaks for international flights and jet fuel, and to continue improving and expanding 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), United Kingdom (#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 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 (the highest in the country) applies to both public transport and luxury goods. These countries are Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Hungary.
Contacts:
Lorelei Limousin, Transport Campaigner at Greenpeace EU:
+32 (0)477 79 04 15, (email protected)
Greenpeace EU Press Office:
+32 (0)2 274 1911, (email protected)
For breaking news and commentary on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU
Greenpeace is an independent global campaign network working to change attitudes and behaviour, protect and conserve the environment and promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the European Union, companies or political parties. Greenpeace has more than three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organizations with offices in more than 55 countries.
EU Transparency Register: 9832909575-41
