Opening statements by Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA,FR), Author and by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

DELLI, Karima (Greens/EFA, FR)

SIMSON, Kadri (EE, EC)

Fit for 55 (T)

Developing an EU Cycling Strategy - O.Q.: Opening statements by Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA,FR), Author and by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), I am delighted that at long last we are talking about bicycles here in this chamber because that is the first step on the road to a genuine European cycling strategy. The Transport and Tourism Committee, of which I am chair, looked into this issue a few weeks ago and has draughted an oral question for the Commission, which will be followed up by a resolution.

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), What we are seeking to do is have cycling viewed not only as a sporting or leisure activity, but as a real fully fledged mode of transport with a dedicated industrial strategy and with dedicated funding because cycling is a real mode of transport, all kinds of advantages in terms of health, reducing traffic and by extension, pollution. Without forgetting the environmental advantages in terms of CO2 as well as economic benefits in terms of our citizens purchasing power.

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), 8% of EU citizens use bicycles as their main mode of transport on a daily basis. 36% in the Netherlands, 23% in Denmark, 22% in Hungary, but only 1% in Cyprus or Portugal, 4% in France. So an awful lot remains to be done. And that is why the Commission some time ago included cycling in its multimodal policy as it is one of its ongoing activities. But remember, colleagues, it was our committee that launched this initiative saying that bicycles need to be carried on trains, and now we've got the T&T's and we have sustainable urban development programmes and now strategic tools to try and increase the share of cycling as a mode of transport in European towns and cities.

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), It's also a strategic issue because more use of cycling will really help us to achieve our Fit for 55 goal. And that is a big part of the RepowerEU programme. So we will not be able to shift to cycling massively if we don't have dedicated cycle lanes and if we separate regular traffic from buses and public transport. But as I say, we have huge benefits in terms of CO2 emissions as well as weaning ourselves off our dependence on fossil fuels, which again is highly strategic.

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), The Commission, therefore, has started to work on this transition for the dedicated mobility ecosystem that we need. So we have a twin track, ecological as well as digital shift also needs to up our resilience. We need to work on manufacturing and building more e-bikes and we need to have a real European industrial strategy at EU level. The same goes for funding programmes for infrastructure in future. It is vital that we reduce our dependency on third countries, particularly when we're talking about bicycles from the Asian market and some spare parts as well as the supply chain where we are dependent. So we should have that objective: bicycles made in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), So as I say, cycling is a real challenge in terms of sustainability as well as part of Europe's industrial strategy. If it's good for the climate, then it's good for the economy. And we've got about 20 million new bicycles sold every year in Europe, and 10% these days are e-bikes. On top of all of that, of course, you've got the whole battery chain which are closely connected to e-bikes. So we've made a late start, but we are trying to catch up. We are having more battery installations, but we've got two wheel vehicles in the broader sense of the term. We've got Micro-Mobility in Europe, we got cargo bikes, delivery bikes, leasing and the like. So we are talking about 1 million, ladies and gentlemen, 1 million green jobs in Europe, in the cycling sector alone.

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), So we need to make sure that this industry is reassured, is brought back to Europe. So the European Commission is there for us to answer the following question as they plan to publish an EU strategy in the near future, how does it plan to complementary send the EU Urban Mobility Framework and the EU climate neutral Smart Cities Mission with adequate measures? And does it intend to develop a safe and convenient cycling infrastructure? And finally, I am concluding, president, does the Commission intend to include the EU bicycle industry?

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, The Commission would like to thank the European Parliament and particularly the honourable member, Delli, for giving it the opportunity to reply on these important questions on EU initiatives and cycling. The importance of cycling is highlighted by the role it plays in the EU Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning concept, as well as awareness raising campaign of the Urban Mobility Week and Cities Initiative.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Cycling also features very prominently in the new EU urban mobility framework and in the proposal for a revised 20 regulation, both published in December last year. It is included also in the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. So now let me go into more detail and in reply to the questions raised in response to the question related to publication of the EU cycling strategy in the near future, I would underline that the Commission fully agrees with the importance of cycling and believes that this is already reflected in its policy priorities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, This position was also recalled by EDP Timmermans in his speech, delivered in Copenhagen at the cycling summit, where he announced that the European Commission should work together with the European Parliament on an interinstitutional European declaration on more cycling in Europe. This declaration could already reflect several of your demands to give more prominence as to how European policies can support cycling. This is especially the case in Member States and in the Council are also invited to take part in such a future declaration.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, In response to that question on measures to complement and or extend the EU Urban Mobility Framework and the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities mission to support cycling and increase its share, I would like to recall the following. The Commission considers that the new EU Urban Mobility Framework provides an adequate basis for promotion of cycling at the EU level. It announces some actions that will further reinforce active mobility, for example, by setting clear priorities to favour these modes in their upgraded Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning concept to be published by the end of 2022.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, The above, coupled with proposed requirements in the revised trans-European Transport Network Regulation regarding adoption of sustainable urban mobility plans by the major cities should result in accelerated growth of cycling share across the EU. In the recent You Save Energy Communication, the Commission highlighted the importance of active mobility in reducing Europe's dependence on fossil fuels. This could be measures supporting bike sharing, incentivising bike purchases through bike purchase subsidies or VAT reductions incentives for employees that use public transport or active modes of commuting to work.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, The proposed and Performance of Buildings Directive already foresees that public buildings should include sufficient parking spaces for bikes and e-bikes and further potential in combination with RepowerEU solar rooftop initiative and Workstreams under the European Powerhouse. There are three more questions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, So response to the questions on inclusion of the EU bicycle industry in the list of EU industries covered by the EU Industrial Strategy, in line with the methodology used on their analyses of industrial ecosystems presented in the Annual Single Market Report 2021 then manufacture of participants has been explicitly included in the Mobility, Transport, Automotive, Industrial ecosystem under the EU Industrial Strategy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, The next step in the co-creation process for that transition pathway will be the organisation of cross-sectoral roundtables in the second half of the 2022, in which stakeholders from the EU bicycle industry will be invited to take part. The manufacturing of bikes and e-bikes carries considerable potential in Europe and the emergence of bike values and their surrounding value change in Member States are highly relevant also for transporting employees of the ride skills from, for example, jobs in the supply chain for internal combustion engines, because new jobs in this wider ecosystem for renewable new mobility, including the manufacturing of e-bikes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Last but not least, in response to the subquestion on the plans to develop EU level requirements for safe and convenient cycling infrastructure, I would like to recall the following. Ensuring the safety of cycling infrastructure is largely the responsibility of local, regional and national governments. However, for cycling in urban areas in particular, the Commission has overseen the production of several guidance documents to help municipalities to incorporate cycling into sustainable urban mobility plans.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, The Road Infrastructure Safety Management Directive includes a number of provisions that are of relevance to cyclists when carrying out network wide road safety assessments. Member States need to assess cycling crossing crossings and the type of cycling facilities, according to the directive. The Commission should also provide guidance on quality requirements regarding vulnerable road users.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, In conclusion, the actions I have just outlined will also help the implementation of the objectives of the Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy, which provides for doubling of the length of cycling infrastructure by 2030 from 2300 kilometres to 5000 kilometres, and for the more effective inclusion of the cycling as one of the TEN-T last mile solutions. Thank you very much and I look forward to your comments.