The European Commission’s Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) has recently published a new set of recommendations aimed at shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and efficient urban mobility landscape across Europe. These recommendations address key challenges and opportunities in the evolving transport ecosystem, guiding the integration of intelligent transport solutions, sustainable urban planning, and equitable mobility access.

EGUM is a platform for dialogue and the co-creation of actions to implement the new EU urban mobility framework. ERTICO, represented by Vlad Vorotovic, Director of Strategy & Innovation at ERTICO, reinforced its commitment to driving innovation and collaboration in urban mobility, as a co-lead of the recommendations for Inclusive and Sustainable Future of Urban Mobility in Europe, Vlad highlights the significance of the recommendations:

“These recommendations mark an important milestone in advancing urban mobility strategies which are technologically innovative but also sustainable and inclusive. ERTICO is proud to contribute its expertise in intelligent transport systems to support the European Commission’s vision for greener and more accessible cities. Through this work, we help shape policies that will define the future of urban mobility, ensuring that smart mobility solutions benefit all citizens and stakeholders.”

In parallel to this report on inclusive and sustainable urban mobility, ERTICO has also actively contributed to the set of EGUM recommendations focusing on optimising limited urban space for mobility. This complementary work, developed alongside the City of Bremen, explores strategies to balance transport demand, urban infrastructure constraints, and environmental considerations while fostering seamless, multimodal transport networks.

Michael Glotz-Richter, on behalf of the City of Bremen / Gloricon Glotz-Richter consult, participated in delivering recommendations on How to deal with limited urban space and conflicting demands for it, taking into account social, climate and environmental goals:

“Every city in Europe faces the challenge of limited street space. The growing number and size of cars consume more and more space, which cities also need for walking and cycling, for climate adaptation, for urban logistics or the provision of shared mobility.”

The EGUM recommendations on urban space contain 17 modules of planning and financing principles, for applying technologies and using behavioral measures. Michael comments, “In combination, we can ensure efficient mobility and at the same time improve quality of life for citizens. In such way, it is possible to reduce the demand for car-parking, to achieve a more efficient use of street space by implementing market-based principles and mobility services. It is possible to dedicate more space for communications, to improve road safety for all – but it requires sound planning and implementation as well as good communications.”

Several ERTICO partners also contributed to the Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) recommendations, including Cycling industries Europe(CIE), the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, ACEA (EUCAR), and a number of national and local authoirites within both EGUM and our partnership.

A big thank you to our team members Dr Tamara Djukic, Head of Green & Urban Mobility, John Paddington, Head of PMO, Coen Bresser, Senior Manager CCAM, for their active contribution to the discussions in several EGUM sub-groups, reinforcing ERTICO’s commitment to shaping sustainable and efficient urban mobility solutions in Europe.

Read the full reports:

 

Background

The EGUM has provided recommendations on Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans (SULPs) which are strategic frameworks designed to optimise the transport of goods within urban areas, aiming to reduce environmental impact and improve efficiency. These recommendations are accompanied by valuable insights on data sharing for zero-emission urban logistics, including useful examples of current practice as well as recommendations on how to accelerate the deployment of innovative sustainable solutions in urban logistics, technologies, use of urban space, policy and regulation, and delivery vehicles.

The expert group also worked further on how to increase the positive impact of parking policies, exploring possible action by administrations and users, including input from relevant projects on establishing and operating parking and kerbside management in cities for both personal mobility and freight.

A thorough analysis was made of existing guidance documents and reference materials for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans. Based on this screening process, the expert group provided input for streamlining and updating the existing guidelines to properly reflect the evolving pace of urban mobility policy.

In addition, the EGUM focused on the allocation of limited urban space and examined the future of urban mobility in Europe, exploring transformation and trends driven by technological advancements, societal changes and environmental requirements. The experts formulated recommendations aiming to enhance urban mobility systems across the EU.

The full set of EGUM reports and recommendations is available here.

The EGUM will focus on three new topics in 2025:

  • Urban nodes: to increase understanding and cooperation between cities and stakeholders of their functional urban areas;
  • City access for businesses: to examine the challenges for collective passenger road transport and road freight transport and facilitate city access and mobility;
  • Implementation of the EU Declaration on Cycling: to take stock of developments and monitor progress on implementing the commitments made through the EU Declaration on Cycling, working in close cooperation with National Cycling Contact Points.

Source: European Commission