Welcome to the eighth edition of the Transport Chronicles, your premier destination for the latest developments, trends, and insights in EU-UK transport affairs. As we navigate the post-election landscape, significant shifts and decisions continue to shape the EU’s future. The final European election results reflect a nuanced balance of power: while the EPP shows slight growth and S&D maintains its seats, Renew has seen notable losses. Despite this, the centrist coalition remains intact, poised to drive European cohesion and action. Additionally, on June 13, the Council formally approved the TEN-T regulation, enhancing connectivity across the EU and its neighbours. As the month progresses, key appointments and strategic plans unfolded, including the selection of top EU leaders and the adoption of the 2019-2024 Strategic Agenda. Dive into these developments and more in this edition.
If you seek more insights or want to join UKTiE, don’t hesitate to reach out! 🌿🛫🌱
🌍9 June: Centre ground holds, far right grows at the expense of greens and liberals
As the polls suggested up until now, the final European election results show a slight growth of EPP, S&D maintaining its number of seats, and Renew losing a significant share. Nonetheless, the centrist coalition of the three maintains its majority and is anticipated to be able to push for European joint action and cohesion. Furthermore, as expected, the final results show a slight shift to the right with good results for both ECR and ID, coming at the expense of green and liberal seats.
🌍13 June: TEN-T formally approved by the Council 🛤️
On 13 June, the Council formally approved the Trans-European transport network (TEN-T), the last step in the legislative process before being published in the Official Journal and entering into force. The revised regulation calls for unification of the TEN-T network by using the European standard rail track gauge. It also strives for better connectivity of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova with the EU through the extension of the relevant European Transport Corridors.
🌍27 June: Von der Leyen, Costa and Kallas approved for EU top jobs 💼
🌍27 June: Council adopts Strategic Agenda
During the same Council Summit the candidates for top jobs were chosen, Thursday 27 June, the EU leaders also adopted the anticipated Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024. As expected, the narrative favours an industrial focus over climate crisis preparedness. In the section on making a success of the green and digital transitions, investments in cross-border infrastructure for energy, water, transport and communications was raised (p. 7).
🌍27 June: European Commission releases Transport Report ✈️🚗🛥️🛤️
Aligned with the EU’s sustainable and smart mobility strategy, the European Commission has released its 2024 iteration of the Transport Report, which was paused during COVID-19. The report outlines the current situation on the path to reduce transport greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050, revealing that aviation is almost exclusively fuelled by kerosene-type jet fuels (99.75% in 2019). It broadly concludes that many challenges remain in the transitions to a green and digital economy in the transport sector, with accompanying fact-sheets for each EU member state.
🗓️Key dates
- 1st Plenary: 16-19 July
- Expected hearing of Ursula von der Leyen: 18 July
- 1st meetings on TRAN and ENVI committees: 23-26 July
- UKTiE engagement days in Brussels: 14-15 October
- Commissioner hearings: October-November
- UKTiE UK-EU event in London to be scheduled for later in the year.
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