Sustainable transport "is about our strategic independence" EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas

Our guest this week on ‘Talking Europe’ is Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism.

Cancellations, delays, unventilated trains… Europe’s recent heatwave laid bare some of the weaknesses of the bloc’s railways. Despite aging tracks and trains, Tzitzikostas insists Europe’s railway system is improving. According to the Commissioner, an assessment has been done to determine which areas need more upgrades and which are already resilient enough to accommodate travelers in extreme weather. But he admits more infrastructure updates are needed “to make sure we are ready for what is coming, because the climate crisis is here and it’s getting worse.”

As the bloc pushes for Europeans to turn to more sustainable forms of transportation, like trains, Tzitzikostas says: “it's not only about the environment anymore. It is about the environment of course, but it is also about our strategic independence. The war in Iran and the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz showed the world “what it means to be dependent energetically from third countries.” For the Commissioner, the only way to tackle these types of crises in the future is to produce more alternative fuels within the bloc.

Air travel was heavily impacted by a spike in jet fuel prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, leading to surging ticket prices. “We don’t have an issue of supply, but we have an issue of price.” According to Tzitzikostas, the fact Europe produces 70% of the jet fuel it consumes and has diversified its imports allowed it to cope with the 20% that has stopped coming through the Strait of Hormuz. As for ticket prices, he believes they will eventually come down, but only if a final agreement is struck between the US and Iran that restores free navigation in the Strait.

While Europe can’t do much about ticket prices, it has however made progress when it comes to air passengers’ rights. After more than a decade of negotiations, Europe “will finally have a set of rules for passengers’ rights that is fair, that is just, that is very supportive of the passengers.” Among the changes, parents will now be able to be seated next to their child for free, passengers will no longer lose their ticket if they don’t use their outbound flight and the cost of a hand luggage will have to be included in the fare. For Tzitzikostas though, the most important aspect of these new rules is bringing clarity, “so the people and the passengers know what they're entitled to and how they can get their compensations.” The new rules will be implemented next summer to give companies time to adapt to the new requirements.

Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats, Isabelle Romero, Loic Chalavon and Oihana Almandoz

Our guests

Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism