The CoR’s COTER Commission has appointed Patrik Schwarcz-Kiefer (EPP/HU), Member of the County Council of Baranya Vármegye, as rapporteur on transport poverty.
In his first reaction, Schwarcz-Kiefer stated: “In the European Union, many people live in situations where they don’t have good transport options. Because of this, they can’t get to work, services, or education. This is called transport poverty. We need to change this and make sure that these people don’t end up paying the price for reaching the EU’s 2050 climate goals. Local governments also carry this burden. Our job now is to find the best solutions to help. No one’s job, education, or health should depend on whether they can get to these important places.”
The European Commission has recently published a set of recommendations on transport poverty, aimed at ensuring affordable, accessible, and fair mobility. The overall goal is to prevent and reduce transport poverty by guaranteeing fair access to reliable and affordable transport, while respecting environmental sustainability, climate-specific objectives, and economic viability.
The Social Climate Fund is expected to play a key role by providing substantial financial support to help Member States implement structural reforms and promote sustainable, inclusive mobility.
Indicative timeline for adoption:
• First discussion and adoption in the COTER Commission: 07 October
• Final adoption at the Plenary Session: 10–11 December