UITP at Connecting Europe Days 2026
For four days, Brussels became the centre of Europe’s mobility discussions. Connecting Europe Days provided an opportunity to take stock of the latest transport developments across the continent and explore how Europe can build a more connected, competitive and sustainable transport system.
As the European Commission’s flagship event on mobility, Connecting Europe Days brought together EU institutions, policymakers, financial institutions, industry representatives and transport stakeholders to discuss concrete measures, share experiences and exchange good practices for creating a competitive, resilient, safe and sustainable transport sector in Europe.
As the voice of public transport operators and authorities in Europe, UITP was actively involved throughout the event: from contributing to panel discussions and bringing the public transport perspective to the European mobility debate, to showcasing state-of-the-art innovations at the exhibition of EU-funded projects.
Once again, Connecting Europe Days offered an important platform to highlight the role of local public transport in delivering Europe’s mobility and climate objectives.
Making TEN-T work for everyone: putting people first
Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary-General of UITP, moderated the session “Making TEN-T work for everyone: Lessons learned from the network of Ambassadors for #DiversityInTransport.”
The TEN-T Regulation envisages an inclusive European transport system that works for everyone, regardless of their mobility needs, gender, disability, age or ethnic background. It calls for barrier-free and inclusive access to transport, alongside continuous improvements to make mobility more seamless for all.
Throughout the discussion, one central message emerged, closely echoing the core value of UITP’s current Strategic Plan, People First: putting people at the centre of transport policy and planning.
Making TEN-T work for everyone means looking beyond the kilometres of infrastructure that are built. It also means asking who can access, afford and use the transport system, and whether the network responds to the needs of the people it is intended to serve.
Panellists highlighted that transport poverty cannot be considered as a stand-alone issue. Limited or unaffordable access to transport can contribute to social exclusion and undermine people’s ability to remain connected to their communities: the Right to Stay. At the same time, inclusive digitalisation, barrier-free access and meaningful user involvement in transport planning can help ensure that no one is left behind.
The discussion also addressed the growing role of artificial intelligence in transport. Panellists noted its potential to improve accessibility, including through more inclusive language and better dissemination of information.
User involvement was therefore another key theme of the session. Designing and planning transport systems with the final users in mind is essential to creating a network that is genuinely inclusive and responsive to the diversity of people’s mobility needs.
The keynote speaker, MEP Tilly Metz, concluded the session by saying, “All these interventions were music to my ears!” and she also stressed that while high-speed rail plays an important role in the European transport network, it is used by a minority of people, echoing UITP message that an overwhelming share of journeys starts and ends at the local level.
Local public transport moves large numbers of passengers every day, supports efficient land use and contributes to energy savings. It is therefore an essential part of delivering an inclusive TEN-T.
Public transport as an investment in people and climate, not as a cost
As transport poverty is an issue of particular importance to the local public transport sector, UITP was pleased to take part in the panel discussion “The role of the Social Climate Fund in addressing transport poverty.” The session provided a platform to explore ways of addressing transport poverty and to discuss how the Social Climate Fund can be effectively used to support a socially fair transition towards sustainable mobility, particularly for vulnerable households and transport users.
Artur Perchel, Deputy Director Europe at UITP, put the issue into perspective: tackling transport poverty starts with recognising public transport as an investment in people and climate, not simply as a cost.
The EU already has important tools at its disposal to address transport poverty across Europe. If properly implemented and supported, the Social Climate Fund, alongside Cohesion Policy, can help public transport authorities develop solutions that reflect the specific realities of their territories. Because when it comes to transport poverty, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
But funding alone will not be enough. Artur Perchel stressed the importance of involving transport authorities and the people who use public transport every day in the development of National Social Climate Plans. Understanding local needs and experiences is essential to ensuring that these plans translate into measures that work in practice.
This local perspective was also underlined by Patrik Schwarcz-Kiefer, Member of the European Committee of the Regions, who pointed out that when people face a problem, they often turn first to their local mayor for support. Local and regional authorities therefore need to be part of the process, helping ensure that European and national measures respond to the realities people experience on the ground.
For a deeper look at how transport poverty can be addressed in practice, UITP’s position paper on the Social Climate Fund brings together best practices from our European members, alongside UITP’s recommendations.
From pilot projects to lasting solutions
The UITP-coordinated EU-funded projects UPPER and eBRT2030 shared a stand on the exhibition floor, where participants had the chance to meet with project representatives and discuss the latest projects’ results. These range from from DRT, accessible mobility and the concept of Mobility as a Right, to electric Bus Rapid Transit.
The ULTIMO and NAPCORE projects were also present, showcasing automated mobility and mobility data.
The presence of these projects highlighted the importance of research and innovation in public transport. With several pilot cities involved across the projects, solutions tested in one place can be adapted and replicated elsewhere.
This is ultimately what these projects aim to enable: scaling up successful solutions, supporting replication, and ensuring that innovation does not remain an isolated pilot with no lasting impact.
