High-ranking European Commission (EC) officials insist simply throwing more and more legislation onto current transport systems will alienate countries even further from Brussels.
A growing wave of discontent with the European Union (EU) is gathering momentum across the Continent and threatens to break across the bows of the Commission, with even Pope Francis appearing to launch a thinly-veiled critique of Brussels in his address to the Strasbourg Parliament this week.
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Several right of centre parties such as Le Front National in France, Alternativ fur Deutschland in Germany and the United Kingdom Independence Party in Britain, are rapidly gaining traction and votes with an electorate seemingly disgruntled with Brussels demands for ever-great financial contributions and a remote connection to improving their lot.
“In the past, probably the EC has said perhaps we know everything and we will come with legislation,” said Head of Unit DG Move, Claire Depre, addressing delegates at this year’s CLEPA Aftermarket Conference in Brussels.
“At the same time we have Member States looking with suspicion at the European Commission. If we continue like that it will simply not work. The revolution is not tomorrow – it is today.
“From our side – especially my Unit – what we have at stake is the intelligent transport system. We probably still need bit of regulatory measures. We said many, many times, transport is the backbone of the economy, but transport has to transform itself. From moving from transport to transport services, we see transport moving to offer new mobility services.”
The DG head used her address to focus on the provision of traffic information to consumers in a bid to address infrastructure congestion issues, which are increasingly common in European and emerging economy countries.
“We have set up quite a strong group of the EC and Member States and representatives from the private sector, with the idea of trying to shape a common vision,” said Depre. “What we need is predictability, to remove barriers.
“By providing a choice and a better offer to the consumer, they will find a balance. In terms of real time traffic information, we will adopt a new set of requirements. The idea is not to have huge legislation, to hamper innovation…so we do not have to go each and every time to [the] authorities.”
The Unit chief – whose idea could see traditional drivers offered alternative transport choices such as bicycles or public transport – insisted the EC was not anti-car but was looking to provide new ways of choosing which travel mode to take.
