The new EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy: A local and regional perspective

On December 9th 2020 the European Commission presented its “Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy”, which is central to achieving the climate targets of the European Green Deal (EC, 2020a). Together with an Action Plan of 82 initiatives, the strategy sets the policy agenda for Europe’s transition to a green, smart and affordable transport system that aims to change the way people and goods move across the continent and deliver a 90% reduction in the transport sector’s emissions by 2050. The strategy also lays the foundation for the digital transformation of the EU transport system and stresses the importance of making transport more resilient in order to secure a well-functioning single market in future crises. More generally, the objective is to make all transport modes more sustainable, make sustainable alternatives widely available in a multimodal transport system and put in place the right incentives to drive the transition. To make this vision a reality, ten key areas for action (“flagships”) are laid out, ranging from boosting the uptake of zero-emission vehicles and related infrastructure to achieving seamless, safe and efficient connectivity and enhancing transport safety and security.