Assessing the impact of European Union policies on urban transport: a comparative analysis

The impact EU (European Union) policies have at the local level is little understood and explored, especially in the field of urban transport. Yet the EU has a growing influence in the urban transport sphere. This thesis examines the EU’s impact on urban transport policies throughout Europe and assesses whether the EU has contributed to generate sustainable mobility at the local level. It argues that certain EU regulatory policies and funding programmes have had an impact on urban transport policies and have contributed to fostering sustainable mobility policies. Three methods were used for this study: content analysis of interviews with key stakeholders, comparative analysis of key documents in different countries and cities, in particular France and the UK, and surveys of a wide sample of policy makers in European cities. The findings of this study illustrate that the role played by the EU in the field of urban transport is increasingly important. The main EU influence in this field emanates from its environmental policies in a strong yet indirect way, as well as from its funding programmes in a more direct way but with less effect. EU climate change policies’ impact on urban transport is limited but increasing. Finally this study finds that the EU plays an important role in the field of urban transport and that local policy makers generally welcome initiatives and funding emanating from the European Commission. Discussion and recommendations are formulated highlighting the increasing importance supranational institutions such as the EU play in fostering sustainable urban mobility in collaboration with actors across different levels

What impact do EU environmental policies have on urban transport?

Urban transport policy is shaped by multiple factors. It can be influenced by local, regional, national or supranational actors. The role of the European Union in initiating urban transport policies is unclear and its impact little understood. Yet some EU legislation and initiatives can have a major effect on local transport policies and lead to important modifications and additions. The percentage of national legislation originating from the EU varies greatly according to the country. In France, official sources claim that in 1992 54% of new legislation originated from Brussels, whereas some argue that in the UK only 20% of legislation (including statutes and statutory instruments) emanates from the EU. UK findings suggest that 57% of statutory instruments coming from the EU are implemented by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); this statistic indicates the strength of influence of the EU in the environmental area. In addition, this study has found that 36% of all EU legislation impacting on urban transport (directly and indirectly) emanates from the EU Directorate General for the Environment. These findings suggest that Environmental legislation is also one of the main sources of EU legislation affecting urban transport. In the EU, urban mobility and transport is responsible for "40% of all CO2 emissions of road transport and up to 70% of other pollutants from transport” (DG Mobility and Transport). If the EU is to achieve the targets set up by the Kyoto Protocol (20-20-20) and other agreements such as Agenda 21, then urban transport policy needs to be addressed. This study looks at the impact that European Union legislation and policies are having on urban transport policy, planning and operation in cities. The aim of the study is to find out how binding (e.g. EU Directives or Regulations) and non binding policies (e.g. Community Guidelines or Funding Programmes) initiated by different Directorate Generals (DGs) within the EU Commission are affecting transport policies at city level, specifically in the UK, France and Spain. The study looks at three examples: the Directive on Air Quality Legislation, the EU Climate and Energy package (20-20 CO2 targets), and the urban funding programme CIVITAS. Through a combination of literature review and interviews with key stakeholders, it uses these examples to illustrate how legislation and policy filter down from the supranational level to national and sub-national levels in different countries. Using case study urban areas, it explores what specific changes the EU has influenced, such as changes in the local political agenda and concrete modifications in the city’s investments and infrastructure. The paper will illustrate in more detail the influence of the EU Directive on Air Quality on urban transport in cities in the UK, France and Spain, and will report results from initial qualitative interviews with key actors at different levels of government in the three countries

Linking transport, health and sustainability: Better data sets for better policy-making

The impact transport has on our physical and mental health and on the environment is increasingly recognised by academics, practitioners and decision-makers. To inform policy-making and research, it is crucial to have access to sufficient comprehensive datasets linking these topics. Large scale surveys rarely combine questions on transport, health and sustainability, limiting their usefulness in research and policy-making. This project set out to identify the gaps in administrative and survey datasets to link health outcomes to travel behaviour and the quality of the environment; investigate the impact this has on research and policy-making; assess how these gaps might be addressed; and identify what the needs are for joined datasets. To achieve this, the project interviewed key decision-makers and stakeholders across England, including civil servants within national or local government and third sector organisations. The results highlight gaps within national datasets; the insufficient links between health, transport, and sustainability datasets; and the need for further joined data in various fields, in particular active travel, health and wellbeing. Participants suggested several solutions, including better harmonisation of surveys and data fusion