Speaking ahead of this evening's debate and vote on a Parliamentary report on sustainable urban mobility, GUE/NGL shadow rapporteur on the file, Merja Kyllönen, regretted that the report had failed to set binding targets or to take serious steps to improve traffic safety in cities.

MEP Kyllönen commented:

“While urban mobility is a massive contributor to CO2 emissions and also a producer of a huge amount of nitrogen oxides and harmful particles, it's also a playing field where questions are easiest solved by promoting the attractiveness of public transport and improving the conditions for walking and cycling. It's good that our eyes have finally been opened – thanks to Volkswagen.

“Still, I'm really sad that some groups were not ready to set binding targets to ambitiously promote sustainable transport modes or to take serious steps to improve traffic safety in cities. There won't be progress without any action.

“It is also worth noting that smart and sustainable urban mobility is definitely not of interest only to the big cities or metropolises in Europe. Instead, in many cases, it is precisely smaller cities and towns which have the privilege of shorter distances and thus easier promotion of sustainable solutions based on local conditions.” 

 

GUE/NGL Press Contact:

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

Nikki Sullings + 32 483 03 55 75