Whether we drive or take the train to work, or walk to the supermarket, we probably all use some form of transport every day. Transport is responsible for around 25 % of greenhouse gas emissions, and under the Green Deal, EU leaders agreed to cut transport-related emissions by 90 % by 2050. This means replacing fossil fuels, changing our habits and switching to greener ways of getting around. Developing public transport and promoting active mobility are key to reaching this climate target. A co-legislator for the European Climate Law and the ‘fit for 55’ initiatives, the European Parliament has adopted a number of resolutions encouraging the European Commission to take further action.
In its 2020 resolution on the Green Deal, Parliament called for zero-emission public transport as well as cycling and walking infrastructure to reduce congestion and improve liveability in towns and cities. A year later, the Commission announced its urban mobility framework.
Parliament later demanded EU countries develop safe, accessible, affordable, smart, resilient and sustainable urban transport systems. The 2023 own‑initiative resolution states EU countries should develop collective transport services, such as car sharing and e‑bikes, and also states national governments should encourage the use of individually owned bicycles and other micro-mobility vehicles by providing biking and charging infrastructure. The resolution highlights the important role of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital solutions and demands better solutions for ticketing.
Parliament has also repeatedly highlighted cycling as a green transport option. Cycling reduces road congestion and greenhouse gas emissions and has a favourable impact on health tourism, the cycling industry and local employment. In a 2021 resolution, Parliament welcomed new cycling infrastructure in some Member States, and argued for its further expansion. Parliament adopted its first resolution on cycling in February 2023. It asked the Commission to develop a European cycling strategy, and to recognise cycling as equal to other forms of transport. Parliament argued that urban planning should always build cycling into mobility solutions, and tied into inter-urban transport systems.
Parliament demanded that urban mobility policies at all levels consider cycling, including the needs of those with disabilities and reduced mobility. In response to Parliament’s initiatives, the Commission proposed a European Declaration on Cycling in October 2023, recognising cycling as one of the most sustainable, accessible and inclusive, low-cost and healthy forms of transport.
Parliament has used both its agenda-setting and law-making powers to encourage the use of more sustainable transport options, and many national authorities have responded by encouraging cycling. Parliament’s powers fall broadly into six, often overlapping, domains: law-making, the budget, scrutiny of the executive, external relations, and, to a lesser extent, constitutional affairs and agenda-setting. This graphic shows more examples of areas where Parliament used one or more of its different powers to influence legislation:
For a fuller picture of the European Parliament’s activity over the past five years, take a look at our publication Examples of Parliament’s impact: 2019 to 2024: Illustrating the powers of the European Parliament, from which this case is drawn.