Last 11 May the Urban Transports Community organised a conference in Brussels targeting EU policymakers and key stakeholders to discuss sustainable mobility solutions for living and visiting the Mediterranean, with a focus on cycling and mobility for tourist destinations. The same two axes were discussed during the third regional seminary of the project, co-organised by MedCities and EIT Urban Mobility the 24th May in Barcelona. 

In Brussels, the conference “Working for a greener Mediterranean: sustainable mobility solutions for a greener and better experience living and visiting the Mediterranean” was hosted by MEP Mr Corrao (Greens / EFA), member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism, who was absent due to a personal matter. DG Move, the European Federation of Cyclists (EFC), different MEP’s offices, and other key stakeholders were present during the official presentation of the partnership’s new set of policy proposals to move towards more sustainable tourism mobility in the Mediterranean.

The Mayor of Durres, Miriana Sako, present at the event, highlighted “the ambition of Durres and the Mediterranean cities to guarantee the safe and accessible use of bicycles, even in the most touristy coastal areas“. Dürres is a MedCities member and for the association, it was a fruitful session. After the event, the Secretary-General, Josep Canals, had the opportunity to have a one-to-one talk with Mrs. Sako to explore new collaborations and projects.

You can find the project’s second policy brief here, authored by Albert Arias and coordinated by MedCities, which discusses solutions to address the fact that transport accounts for 73% of the total CO2 emissions generated by tourism activities with a forecast to double in 2030, according to the Eurobarometer October 2021. 

The regional seminar in Barcelona held at the Torre Glories the 24th May gathered over 30 participants representing public and municipal administrations from different regions of Catalunya, together with private companies and start-ups specialized in the fields of sustainable and active mobility, air quality services, and data for transport management. A networking space promoted the exchange of contacts and projects with positive results.

The Secretary General of MedCities, Josep Canals Molina, acted as host of both events and explained: “We advocate about the role of city councils as actors of change and for the need to better coordination between different administrations to move towards more sustainable and greener mobility that cuts its impacts on tourism areas in the Mediterranean and across Europe”.