EU undertakes third and final set of actions to modernise Europe's transport system

Building on the previous "˜Europe on the Move"˜ of May and November 2017, the Juncker Commission puts forward a third and final set of measures aiming to allow all Europeans to benefit from safer traffic, less polluting vehicles and more advanced technological solutions, while supporting the competitiveness of the EU industry.

In his State of the Union address of September 2017, President Juncker set out a goal for the EU and its industries to become a world leader in innovation, digitisation and decarbonisation.

Building on the previous "˜Europe on the Move"˜ of May and November 2017, the Juncker Commission put forward a third and final set of measures to make this a reality in the mobility sector. The objective is to allow all Europeans to benefit from safer traffic, less polluting vehicles and more advanced technological solutions, while supporting the competitiveness of the EU industry.

The initiatives include an integrated policy for the future of road safety with measures for vehicles and infrastructure safety; the first ever CO₂ standards for heavy-duty vehicles; a strategic Action Plan for the development and manufacturing of batteries in Europe and a forward-looking strategy on connected and automated mobility.

With this initiative, the Commission aims to ensure a smooth transition towards a mobility system which is safe, clean and connected and automated. Through these measures, the Commission is also shaping an environment allowing EU companies to manufacture the best, cleanest and most competitive products.

On safe mobility the Commission is proposing that new models of vehicles are equipped with advanced safety features, such as advanced emergency braking and lane-keeping assist system for cars or pedestrian and cyclists' detection systems for trucks. In addition, the Commission is helping Member States to systematically identify dangerous road sections and to better target investment. These two measures could save up to 10,500 lives and avoid close to 60,000 serious injuries over 2020-2030, thereby contributing to the EU's long-term goal of moving close to zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050 ("Vision Zero").

On clean mobility the Commission is completing its agenda for a low-emission mobility system by putting forward the first ever CO₂ emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. In 2025, average CO₂ emissions from new trucks will have to be 15% lower than in 2019. For 2030, an indicative target of at least 30% is proposed. To allow for further CO₂ reductions, the Commission is making it easier to design more aerodynamic trucks and is improving labelling for tyres. In addition, the Commission is putting forward a comprehensive action plan for batteries that will help create a competitive and sustainable battery "ecosystem" in Europe.

On connected and automated mobility the Commission is proposing a strategy aiming to make Europe a world leader for fully automated and connected mobility systems. The strategy looks at a new level of cooperation between road users, which could potentially bring enormous benefits for the mobility system as a whole. Transport will be safer, cleaner, cheaper and more accessible to the elderly and to people with reduced mobility. In addition, the Commission is proposing to establish a fully digital environment for information exchange in freight transport. This will cut red tape and facilitate digital information flows for logistic operations.