Auditors examine EU support for #UrbanMobility

The European Court of Auditors is conducting an audit of EU action to improve the mobility of people in cities and densely populated areas. The auditors will examine how the European Commission and member states use the EU funding available to put their urban mobility policies into action and whether the Commission provides effective support to member states. The auditors will also assess the progress made in recent years in managing traffic congestion.

“Efficient mobility management is a key issue for urban areas,” said Iliana Ivanova, the member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the audit. “Traffic congestion is a growing daily problem for many people in the EU and road transport is responsible for a significant part of air pollution and environmental noise in urban areas.”

The auditors have published an audit preview on urban mobility in the EU. Audit previews provide information on an ongoing audit task. They are designed as a source of information for those interested in the policy or programmes being audited.

Around 70% of Europe’s population lives in urban areas, and this figure is expected to increase. Urban mobility refers to all travel options and associated activities in a city or urban area. It depends on several factors, including land use, car ownership and mobility policies.

Inefficient travel networks in urban areas cost member state economies an estimated €110 billion each year – more than 1% of the member states’ combined GDP, while the health costs of air pollution amount to several hundred billion euro per year. Research shows that in highly congested regions, free-flowing traffic could mean productivity gains of up to 30%.

The EU has put in place a range of policies, and the Commission has promoted sustainable mobility plans to help member states address the challenges facing urban mobility. More than €60bn from the EU budget has been made available to put such initiatives into action during the 2014-2020 period.

The auditors will focus on:

• The Commission’s measures to encourage member states to develop sound policies and consistent strategies with a view to improving urban mobility;
• the use of EU funding to put the Commission’s policy on urban mobility into action;
• progress made during the 2014-2020 period, in terms of congestion levels compared to population growth.

They will carry out visits to cities in Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain.

The audit report is expected to be published in 2020.

The full preview is available here  in English.

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