On Wednesday, May 6, the Institute for Competitiveness (I-Com) had the pleasure of hosting the policy breakfast entitled “EU Transport Decarbonisation: Balancing Climate Goals with Industrial Strength”, a discussion focused on the future of European mobility and the challenges of the ecological transition in the transport sector. The event, organised within the framework of the Cantiere Europa+ project, featured the participation of Pierpaolo Settembri, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, together with representatives from institutions, trade associations, companies, and stakeholders from the automotive, railway, and energy sectors.
Opening the discussion, I-Com President Stefano da Empoli presented the key findings of I-Com’s latest study on the progress of the electric transition within the European automotive sector. The analysis highlighted a transition path still marked by significant industrial and strategic challenges for the European industry, which is called upon to reconcile decarbonisation targets with the need to preserve competitiveness and manufacturing capacity. The study also underscored the growing pressure exerted by foreign manufacturers in the electric vehicle market, an element that requires Europe to strengthen its industrial policies, investments in innovation, and the resilience of its supply chains.
The floor was then given to Pierpaolo Settembri, who outlined the main initiatives that the European Commission has introduced and continues to advance in order to accelerate transport decarbonisation. His intervention addressed several key topics on the European agenda, including the ETS revision, the role of biofuels in the energy transition, the European Single Ticketing project, the action plan for European high-speed rail, and the development of automated vehicles.
The discussion was subsequently opened to the many stakeholders attending the event, including trade associations, companies, NGOs, and representatives from the industrial sector, spanning both the automotive and railway industries.
