20 May 2022
Confirmed speakers: MEP Ismail Ertug (S&D/DE, AFIR Rapporteur), Antoine Grange (CEO Europe, Transdev), Michael Villa (Executive Director, Smarten), Julien Martin (Head of Regulation, EDF Mobility), Elisa Schenner (Head of EU office, Wiener Stadtwerke GmBH)
Decarbonising urban and peri-urban mobility is essential to achieve the EU's climate neutrality in 2050, with the relationship between transport and energy more crucial than ever. With SGI Europe members at the core of this interconnection between energy and transport, the event will gather key stakeholders, enabling the transition towards zero-emission mobility from energy suppliers to public transport providers.
Contact: Ariel Carpanini
In the framework of the SGI Europe's project co-funded by the European Commission, 'Green Skills in VET', the third sectoral workshop will take place on 24 May, bringing together the project partners and external stakeholders.
The workshop will focus on the impact of the environmental transition on the skills and training aspects in urban transport at all levels, including changes in the occupational profiles, updating the curriculum of training, and improving the collaboration between transport and education providers. Likewise, good practices from the national and European levels will be presented during the workshop.
You can find here the agenda. You can register to attend with the registration form, and you will receive the necessary details via email.
Contact: Stefan Enica
On 18 May 2022, the European Commission adopted the REPowerEU Plan, which includes a set of legislative proposals to reduce the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels whilst increasing the EU Green Deal's ambitions. SGI Europe contributed to this plan with a dedicated SGI Europe position paper finalised on 28 April 2022 and reacted to the adopted plan with a press release.
The REPowerEU Plan has three main axes to address internal actions within the EU, with mainly energy saving and the rollout of renewables, external strategy with the diversification of secure supplies, and how to finance these needed investments.
On the EU internal action, the European Commission presented the EU Save Energy strategy and proposals for amending the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. On the deployment of renewables, the EU Solar Strategy recognises solar as one of the main competitive sources of electricity in the EU. It intends to double photovoltaic and solar panels by 2025. SGI Europe called for faster and simplified permitting and therefore welcomes the Recommendation on permitting procedures.
On the external side, diversifying energy supplies is now imperative. The EU External Energy Engagement Strategy looks at new long-term energy partnerships, with an essential focus on hydrogen. On financing, with the proposal for a Regulation on REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans, the Commission aims at integrating measures adopted in the context of REPowerEU into the existing recovery and resilience plans (RRPs).
On top of the REPowerEU plan, the European Commission also adopted a Communication on Short-Term Energy Market Interventions and Long-Term Improvements to the Electricity Market Design. This communication directly responds to the volatile energy prices, proposing a series of short-term measures to tackle the high energy prices and address possible supply disruptions.
Contact: Ariel Carpanini
On Wednesday 17 May 2022, the European Parliament's Transport Committee (EP TRAN) welcomed the European Commission to present and discuss their draft interpretative guidelines on PSO Regulation, providing the regulatory framework for organising and financing land transport services. According to the EC, the revision aims to incentivise competent authorities to establish cross-border public service obligation (PSO), allocate public contracts, and promote long-distance rail travel.
Karima Dalli (Greens/EFA, FR), chair of the committee, opened the hearing, pointing out the range of criticism from stakeholders, reflecting fears that the EC might overstep their competences when imposing on national authorities the need to show the existence of demand for PSO. Moreover, such obligations neglect other objectives, important for public transport providers, such as environmental and social ones. Various MEPs from different political groups and Member States voiced similar concerns. MEPs furthermore questioned the transparency of the Commission's work since there was no broad public consultation, and only targeted stakeholders were consulted (amongst them SGI Europe).
The Commission responded that interpretative guidelines are not new rules but are only rounding up the interpretation of the PSO Regulation 1370/2007. Notably, during the hearing, the Commission acknowledged that the current text ignores future changes in demand. Therefore, the Commission is considering adjusting the text by including the possibility of including also expected demand.
As a targeted stakeholder, SGI Europe was consulted by the European Commission in February (you can read our response here). On 4 May 2022, SGI Europe joined other European associations representing public transport (UITP, CEMR, CER, Eurocities, EMTA and Polis) in signing a joint statement expressing concerns about the revision of the PSO Regulation interpretative guidelines (you can read it here).
Contact: Manca Pocivavsek
On 24 May, SGI Europe and the EU cross-industry social partners will participate in the dedicated hearing organised by the European Commission on the upcoming Disability Employment Package, one of the flagship initiatives of the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030.
The Strategy is guided by the European Pillar of Social Rights (especially principle 17), which emphasises that persons with disabilities have the right to income support that ensures living in dignity, services that enable them to participate in the labour market and society, and a work environment adapted to their needs.
SGI Europe welcomes the Disability Employment Package to counter ableism in employment. Increased awareness and understanding of disability form the basis of inclusivity in employment. With the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in mind, SGI Europe supports the initiative of improving services provided to people with disabilities. Related to that, SGI Europe deems it essential to consider expenditure on essential services not as a cost but as an investment for an inclusive future.
The Employment Package will present activities that ensure economic autonomy and social inclusion of persons with disabilities through participation in employment. It will focus on six key areas: improvement of inclusivity in employment and integration services; promotion of affirmative action in hiring practices; reasonable accommodation at work; health and safety to prevent disabilities at work; vocational rehabilitation schemes; and work in sheltered employment.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
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