EU - Transport Policy

Written evidence from the London European Partnership for Transport (EU 13)

European Platform on Mobility Management (EPOMM)

1. One of the most important current EU transport challenges is that of

sustainable urban transport. This area encapsulates electric

vehicles, shared space, cycling infrastructure, road safety,

behaviour change schemes, last mile delivery of freight and

passengers, low speed zones, passenger inter-modality, information

and communication technology and cost benefit analysis of

sustainable transport. EU terminology classifies these activities as

"Mobility Management".

2. These activities will feature prominently on the domestic and EU

agenda in the coming years. Implementation will help meet national

and European carbon emissions targets, keep our cities desirable

places to live, and help support economic growth.

3. Many of these areas of transport are being actively supported

through the European Commission’s Action Plan on Urban Mobility

and are expected to feature in its 2020 EU Transport White Paper,

soon to be published.

4. They are also being delivered by local, regional and national

authorities across the EU, in many cases more effectively or

innovatively than in the UK.

5. An opportunity exists, for the Department for Transport to join a

network of other EU transport ministries, to help it deliver its

objectives in a more cost-effective manner. By drawing on tried and

tested models and methods from leading countries, large savings

can be made by avoiding unnecessary new research ventures, or

failed pilots.

6. The network is called the European Platform on Mobility

Management (EPOMM).

7. EPOMM is a network of government ministries which are responsible

in delivering sustainable transport or mobility management policies

and practices in their countries. These areas are listed in the first

paragraph above.

8. There are currently eight country members which benefit from:

a) access to successful sustainable transport practices delivered by

other EU member states, both locally and nationally

b) contact with national and local experts in all fields of mobility

management to transfer the best policies from country to country

c) greater lobbying power to shape future EU legislation in this field,

and being made aware of forthcoming Directives

d) supporting their national sustainable transport networks (such as

ACT Travelwise ) with a wealth of best practice from EU local

authorities

e) the cost savings derived from delivering sustainable transport

programmes such as reduced road congestion and better road

safety

f) attending 2 to 3 board meetings annually to exchange with fellow

ministries

9. Whilst the UK is currently represented in EPOMM by Merseytravel , it

has not had ministerial membership since a change in personnel some

years ago. This has meant that is has not fully benefited from the

dissemination of information through national channels.

10. EPOMM President Neil Scales (Chief Executive and Director General

of Merseytravel ) has been temporarily supporting the continuation of

UK membership whilst ministerial support has been sought.

11. With EPOMM membership now growing, the Committee is

recommended to consider DfT taking on the role of UK member and

sponsor, from April 2011, at a cost of €15,000 per annum, to secure

the benefits listed above.

12. The subsequent benefit to DfT each year would be significant, both

financially and operatively, thanks to free expertise to hand through

EPOMM, and hence the lesser need for duplicative research.

January 2011