European Commission recommends strategic response to transport poverty
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Transport and mobility
- Infrastructure
- Access to services
- Connected rural areas
- Stronger Rural Areas
A new European Commission recommendation (2025/1021) calls on EU Member States to develop strategic approaches for combating and preventing transport poverty, identifying at-risk populations and areas, and adopting inclusive mobility policies.
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The recommendation calls for integrating transport poverty in existing anti-poverty and sectoral strategies at national and regional levels and provides guidance on:
- Addressing transport poverty through inclusive measures – affordable public transport, on-demand shared mobility, and active travel (cycling, walking) – tailored to local needs;
- Empowering regional and local authorities through capacity building, funding tools, and data access to plan and deliver context-sensitive mobility solutions;
- Strengthening rural connectivity with integrated multimodal transport networks – including rail, buses, cycling paths, and mobility hubs – to reduce social exclusion and support access to services.
The document is intended to guide Member States in identifying, preventing, and reducing transport poverty by ensuring access to affordable, sustainable, and inclusive mobility – particularly for vulnerable groups and underserved areas, such as rural and remote regions. It promotes integrated planning, targeted investment, and alignment with EU climate and social goals.
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