On 4 November 2024, Commissioner-designate for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, addressed the European Parliament’s TRAN Committee, presenting his roadmap for the future of European transport and tourism. His priorities reflect a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and resilience, in line with the objectives set out in his mission letter.

The Commissioner-designate highlighted the importance of:

  • Increasing modal shift: Encouraging greater use of sustainable transport modes, such as inland waterways and rail.
  • Harnessing digital tools and innovation: Leveraging digitalisation to modernise and optimise transport systems.
  • Investing in decarbonisation solutions: Developing a Sustainable Transport Investment Plan to prioritise investments that drive the transition towards clean transport solutions.

Infrastructure and the TEN-T Network

The Commissioner-designate reiterated his commitment to advancing the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), with clear targets to complete the core network by 2030 and the comprehensive and extended networks by 2040. Securing sufficient funding for infrastructure development remains a priority to ensure Europe’s transport systems can meet future demands.

Supporting Innovation and Digitalisation

Tzitzikostas placed significant emphasis on innovation as a driver of sustainability and growth. His plans include:

  • Delivering the Green Industrial Plan to support sustainable economic development.
  • Developing a Sustainable Transport Investment Plan to scale up investments in green and innovative transport solutions.
  • Promoting digitalisation to streamline and modernise transport infrastructure across all modes.

A Strategy for Sustainable Tourism

Recognising tourism’s critical role in Europe’s economy, contributing 10% to GDP, Tzitzikostas committed to developing a Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. This strategy will ensure that Europe remains the world’s leading tourist destination while addressing environmental and economic challenges.

Addressing Labour Shortages and Attracting Talent

To tackle labour shortages in the transport and tourism sectors, Tzitzikostas proposed fostering greater engagement with younger generations. His plans include initiatives to attract and retain talent, making the sectors more appealing to new entrants and future professionals.

Read the full Mission Letter on the European Commission Website