EU financed railway projects in Gävle, Sweden

Railway infrastructure upgrade Gävle-Åänge, Sweden - Recovery and Resilience (RFF)

EP Plenary session - Intelligent Road Transport Systems

In the Tricity agglomeration (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot), a large proportion of EU Cohesion funds are spent on road infrastructure. This infoclip shows the Gdańsk-Sucharski-Słowacki roads connecting Lech Wałęsa Airport with the seaport that have been built or renovated with EU Cohesion fund co-financing of 260 million euros. In Gdynia, Kwiatkowski road 41.1 million euros, Janek Wiśniewski street and the Wzgórze St. Maximilian interchange have been expanded. Using the EU support of 31.8 million euros, Tristar – an integrated traffic control system in Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot – has been developed and brought into use, which has shortened public transport journey times by 15%.

Infoclip: Road infrastructure - Cohesion Fund - Gdansk (Poland)

This infoclip shows the construction works for the new tram line in Tallinn (Estonia) running along a stretch of about 2.5 kilometers, starting at the intersection of Kivisilla and Gonsiori Streets and extending to Põhja Puiestee. The aim of the works is to improve the comfort of public transport, connecting Tallinn's main transport hubs and making transfers as easy as possible. The Vanasadama tram line construction works, including VAT and owner’s supervision, cost about €46 million, with €36.5 million from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

Infoclip: Construction of the Old City Harbour tram line - Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – Tallinn (Estonia)

Rising demand and geopolitical tensions can complicate access to resources vital for technology and industry.             
The European Parliament has approved a new law to help secure supplies of raw materials needed for smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels and more.        
         
The Critical Raw Materials Act will boost the EU’s strategic autonomy, create jobs and drive the green and digital transitions.      
            
Find out more in our short explainer video.     

Securing critical raw materials for the EU’s digital and green transitions  

Have you ever used an app to help get you to your destination? How long would it take by car? What's the best route? Could public transport get you there faster?
 
The better the data available to the app, the more accurate the answers. MEPs have passed new rules to ensure the information about roads needed by connected vehicles and journey planners is more easily available across the EU.
 
Intelligent transport systems will make our roads safer, greener and more efficient.

Digital traffic data: Rules to improve transport connectivity

The European Parliament has passed new rules to make it easier to top up green vehicles.      
      
The EU wants to help create a network of electric recharging and hydrogen refuelling points that are as practical and accessible as petrol stations.      
      
Meanwhile, airports and big ports will have to provide electricity to planes and ships.     
      
The rules are part of Fit for 55 measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions and build a carbon-neutral EU.

Expanding the EU’s alternative fuels infrastructure

Phones, computers, electric cars… they all use batteries. And demand is increasing rapidly.    
 
The European Parliament has approved new rules to reduce the impact on the environment, ensuring minimum standards for recycling batteries and their component materials.

Circular economy: getting more life from batteries

As the EU moves towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the European Parliament wants to ensure no one is left behind.   
    
That is why MEPs have approved an ambitious Social Climate Fund, designed to support vulnerable households, small businesses and transport users.      
      
The fund will be financed by the Emissions Trading System, which makes big polluters pay for the damage they cause.    
          
Discover how the fund will work in our short Q&A.

Energy transition: A fund to support the most vulnerable

The 'polluter pays' principle is at the heart of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS).     
   
In April 2023, the European Parliament passed ambitious laws to update the ETS and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   
   
The new system will make sure more industries pay for their emissions and encourage greater investment in green technology.     
   
The revised ETS is part of the EU’s Fit for 55 laws to tackle the climate crisis.     
       
Find out more in our short, animated Q&A

The updated Emissions Trading System explained

The EU wants to make sure that zero-emission cars and vans are the norm by 2050.   
    
The European Parliament has taken action, pushing to phase out fossil-fueled vehicles and replace them with greener models.    
    
Discover how in our short Q&A animation.

Cutting CO2 emissions with cleaner cars: new EU rules

What if you could easily get from home to work using two different bikes and a train? What if such a trip was simple and hassle-free? This is already a reality in the Netherlands with train-bike schemes at many railway stations. The European Parliament is calling for the rollout of an EU Cycling Strategy to encourage more people to use this healthy, quiet and carbon neutral mode of transport.

Towards an EU Cycling Strategy

By 2035, all new cars manufactured for the EU market should produce zero-emissions. This is what Parliament is aiming for with new rules on CO2 emission standards for cars and vans as part of the Fit for 55 package.
 
Older cars (including diesel cars) will be allowed to continue running until the end of their lifetime, but investing in future vehicles starts now.
 
MEPs want car manufacturers to start developing affordable electric cars and vans now, in order to meet market demand by 2035 and reach the EU’s 2050 climate objectives.

Zero-emission cars by 2035: new EU rules explained

What does the EU do for us? It makes sure our food and products are safe. It connects Europe with safe infrastructure that makes travel cheaper and easier. The single market gives job opportunities to millions of EU citizens.  And calling home from any EU country is now cheaper than ever.  Not bad, right?

What has the EU ever done for me?

The European Green Deal, Fit for 55 package, Climate Law, Emissions Trading System, green finance… What is it all about? How does it work? And how is the EU tackling the growing threat of climate change?

Green Deal, Fit for 55, Climate Law… what are they?

The European Union is set to establish a Social Climate Fund to help citizens and businesses make the transition to clean energy. It comes as the bloc looks to extend its emissions trading system to buildings and road transport - part of efforts to reach carbon-zero by 2050. Parliament is pushing for a sustainable deal, which helps vulnerable households and tackles energy poverty. It also wants to help businesses become more energy efficient.

Parliament moves to help Europeans switch to clean energy

If Europe is to reach carbon net-zero by 2050, it will require a sea-change in a host of areas. How we get about is one of them. Road transport currently accounts for about 20% of Europe’s CO2 emissions. Parliament is calling for more ambitious CO2 reduction targets for cars and vans for 2030.

Fit for 55: Reducing CO2 emissions from cars and vans

The Conference on the Future of Europe returned to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this weekend. Representatives from two of the four European Citizens’ Panels and national Citizens’ Panels championed their recommendations on how to improve the EU. Topics covered were European democracy, values and rights, rule of law and security; and climate change, the environment and health. They debated their ideas with European and national lawmakers, representatives of EU institutions and national governments, regional and local authorities and civil society.

Citizens discuss recommendations with institutions, lawmakers and NGOs

In the first plenary meeting of the year, MEPs elected Roberta Metsola as their new president and discussed France's priorities for the EU presidency with French President Emmanuel Macron. Parliament also voted on safer digital services and animal transport.

Plenary highlights: new Parliament president and online platforms

European citizens met in Warsaw, in person and online, for the third and final session of the panel on climate change, the environment and health. They came up with recommendations that they will present to the plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

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