Mobility and transport

The fourth edition of the European Aviation Environmental Report was released on 14 January, providing a comprehensive review of the aviation sector’s environmental performance and progress made since the previous 2022 edition. The report offers recommendations on reducing aviation's impact on climate change, noise and air quality, and recommends focusing on measures such as increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuels, leveraging air traffic management optimisations and adopting more fuel-efficient technologies.

On 17 January 2025, the EU and Ukraine agreed on the recognition of smart tachographs for the enforcement of the EU-Ukraine Road Transport Agreement. The decision enables the use of smart tachographs by trucks and other heavy good vehicles operating between the EU and Ukraine. These will help to better enforce the agreement, ensuring fair competition, protecting the rights of drivers, and contributing to road safety.

Member States can begin setting up their IT systems in preparation for paperless freight transport, as the first eFTI implementing and delegated acts have entered into force. The new acts specify how these IT systems should be designed, and the data to be exchanged.

The eFTI Regulation is an important step in the digital transformation of freight transport across the European Union. It creates the conditions for a shift from paper-based document exchanges to standardised electronic data on cargo transport for all transport modes.

More renewable and low-carbon fuels will help reduce carbon emissions and air pollution from the EU maritime sector, following the entry into force of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation as of 1 January 2025. The Regulation supports the transition towards a more sustainable transport sector, by mandating the gradual uptake of renewable and low-carbon fuels and the use of onshore power supply in ports from 2030 onwards.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued on 9 January a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for the airspace of the Russian Federation. To ensure maximum flight safety amid Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine, the new Conflict Zone Information Bulletin replaces and broadens the scope of the recommendation regarding Russian airspace previously outlined in CZIB 2022-01R10. It advises against operating within the affected Russian airspace west of longitude 60° East, at all flight levels.

Working on road safety? Looking into ways to raise awareness or plan your own campaign? Have a look at the tips from the European Road Safety Charter or watch the webinar on how to run effective road safety awareness campaigns.

The EU city database on Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) is an information repository featuring other urban mobility plans in EU Member States. It provides information on the 431 urban nodes on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T network), including the SUMP status and the number of inhabitants for each urban node, as well as a web link to the published plans where available, and to the city website.

In the face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU, together with Ukraine and Moldova launched the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes in May 2022. They established new transport routes to keep Ukraine’s imports and exports flowing via rail, road and inland waterways. Today, the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes have become a lifeline for Ukraine’s economy, having transported ca. 170 million tonnes of Ukrainian exports and about 68 million tonnes of imports.

On 4 February 2025, EMSA and the European Environment Agency (EEA) will jointly launch the second edition of the European Maritime Transport Environmental Report (EMTER) at a high-level conference streamed live from EMSA’s Lisbon headquarters.

The event at the Sheraton Hotel at Brussels airport will present the new European ATM Master Plan including its vision, strategic deployment objectives and development priorities and will highlight the expected benefits and associated investment needs. Attendees will also have the chance to explore an on-site Digital Sky Marketplace Exhibition, featuring a sample of SESAR JU’s innovative projects and cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping air traffic management.

Organised by the Waterborne Technology Platform, Waterborne Days 2025 is taking place in Brussels on 4 and 5 February 2025. This event will serve as a premier gathering for professionals in the waterborne transport sector, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and the future of waterborne transport.

The European Commission has adopted the 2025 work programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC). As part of Horizon Europe, the EIC Work Programme 2025 aims to support start-ups and SMEs tackling mobility innovation.

The new call for projects supporting research and innovation under the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission covers four topics: rethinking urban spaces towards climate neutrality, zero-pollution cities, mobility management plans and behavioural change, and integrated peri-urban areas in the transition towards climate neutrality.