The future of transport in Europe is explored here with commentary from Henrik Hololey of the European Commission, as well as transport research priorities, digital innovation and aviation safety.
In the October 2019 edition of Open Access Government, we published an article by the European Commission’s Director-General of DG Move, Henrik Hololey, who outlined challenges and opportunities for the European transport sector, including climate change, as well as research and research. Innovation.(1)
Henrik Hololi is an Estonian and has been Director-General for Mobility and Transport since 2015. Before that, he was Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission from 2013 to 2015. From 2010 to 2013, he served as Prime Minister by the then Vice-President for Transport, Siem Kallas.(2 ) His biography is worth reading if you want to go back and see what other jobs he has done. It is perhaps worth noting here that he received his education between the years 1988-1993 at Tallinn Technical University in Estonia in the Department of Economics, and in 1992 at the University of Denmark where he studied political science and international economics.(3)
The future of transport in Europe
One point that Hololey emphasized in his article for Open Access Government during 2019 is that activity related to transportation activity has never been higher and continues to increase. Among the many insights it offers, we get a glimpse into the future and are told that passenger transport is expected to grow by 42% by 2050 and freight transport by 60%. This was a point he developed in the article.
“The capacity crisis is already evident for some modes of transport, and unless we act, the pressure will become even more severe. For example, if capacity remains the same, it is estimated that by 2040, annual demand for flights in Europe will exceed the number Potential flights by 1.5 million. This means that 160 million passengers will not be able to fly.” (1)
Transportation research
We know that it stands to reason that the European Commission’s research policy is closely linked to its transport policy. “Whether we seek to make transport more sustainable, efficient, safer or more automated, progress towards all of these goals is possible through EU-funded research,” Hololey stressed.(1)
We now know that research and innovation will be vital areas to ensure the right solutions are available when it comes to using sustainable alternative fuels, and this is certainly the view of the new Transport Commissioner, Adina Valian. “This must be matched by sufficient production capacity and sufficient availability of charging and refueling infrastructure in Europe,” she explained. Commissioner Vallin also called for a “joint strategic research and innovation agenda to accelerate developments in connected and automated mobility” and stressed the need to exploit its full potential.(4)
This aligns well with the view of Hololey who believes that member states and industry have equal key roles when it comes to transport research. He concluded by saying: “Investing in research and innovation is the best guarantee of finding solutions to the biggest challenges we face.”(1)
Digital innovation: connected and automated mobility
At the end of his article for Open Access Government, Hololey said that with a new committee set to form from December 2019, this gives the opportunity to review “political priorities and adapt them to an ever-changing world”. We know that one of the priorities of the new Transport Commissioner, Adina Valian, will be to make the most of the opportunities related to connected and automated mobility, with a strong focus on digital innovation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urges Commissioner Valian to “ensure the continuous modernization of key transport systems” in Europe.(5)
Commissioner Valian believes that connected and automated mobility solutions must be harnessed and supported to increase transport capacity, safety and sustainability in the EU. She gives an interesting example relating to the European railway signaling system.
“For example, the European railway signaling system ERTMS can increase capacity by 50%, safety by 25%, and reduce costs by 25%. I will also support the launch of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). They provide innovative services in the field of road transport and traffic management It enables users to obtain better information and utilize transportation networks in a safer, more coordinated and smarter way.
Aviation safety
Considering this safety topic, we know that on 9 December 2019, the Commission updated the EU Air Safety List. This is a list of airlines that do not meet international safety standards and are therefore subject to operating bans or operational restrictions within the European Union. The Armenian Civil Aviation Commission is now under heightened scrutiny because there is evidence here of a decline in safety oversight.
Transport Commissioner Adina Valian said that this decision demonstrates the Commission’s ongoing efforts to provide the highest level of safety. “Not only for European travelers but for travelers all over the world, because aviation safety knows no borders or nationalities. I am happy to announce that today the European Commission has managed to remove all Gabonese airlines from the EU air safety list. Gabon has already been on the list for The year is 2008, so it is very good that we can acknowledge the efforts made by the aviation safety authorities in Gabon.
The future of transport in the European Union
The Transport Commissioner will need to focus on “mitigating the impact of transport on our climate and natural environment, from reducing emissions to air, water and noise pollution” in the view of the European Commission President.(5) Looking to the future, achieving climate neutrality for the EU by 2050 means that Transportation must be modernized, in Commissioner Valian’s view. Modernization means addressing capacity constraints and aging infrastructure as well as making transportation more efficient, and as such, it is essential to invest in “transport networks and exploit digital innovation.”(4)
To achieve this goal, adequate funding for transport must be secured from the next EU budget, urges Commissioner Valian. “We must also take advantage of the opportunities offered by new technological and social developments, such as the digitalization of transportation services, smart transportation services, ride-sharing, and mobility as a service,” she added.
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