Sustainable and smart mobility must be built with, not just for, cities and regions
That’s the core message from the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) in response to the European Commission’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. While CEMR supports the EU’s ambition to link transport policy with the Green Deal and Digital Agenda, it urges stronger recognition of the essential role local and regional governments play in achieving climate and mobility goals.
CEMR highlights that sustainability cannot come at the expense of connectivity, accessibility, affordability, safety and health. Local authorities must be empowered to strike the right balance between environmental ambition and citizens’ everyday mobility needs, whether in dense city centres, suburbs, or rural areas.
Key messages from CEMR include:
- Partnership across levels of government is vital. Local mobility strategies must be developed in coordination with national and EU institutions, with clear roles, shared responsibilities, and sufficient funding.
- Flexible, inclusive planning tools, like Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), should be strengthened, not standardised. Cities and regions need adaptable frameworks that reflect their unique territorial challenges.
- More funding and clearer access are needed for local mobility infrastructure, including investments through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Connecting Europe Facility, and Horizon Europe mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities.
- Policy support must go beyond technology. Behavioural change, active mobility, shared mobility and smart spatial planning are just as important as electric vehicles and digital tools.
CEMR also calls for better regulation on key issues such as alternative fuels, intelligent transport systems, public transport governance, and micromobility. At the same time, it stresses the need for EU-wide data platforms and speed adaptation systems to improve safety and enforcement.
In short, Europe’s transport transformation will only succeed if local realities shape the road ahead. Sustainable mobility starts where people live, and local governments must have a central seat at the table.
For more information, contact:
Advisor – Environment and mobility
