García Chueca: “We are at a pivotal moment for transport policies in Europe as we face the challenge of achieving climate neutrality”

• The Basque Government is spearheading a European project to enhance cross-border public transport and advance the creation of a Single European Railway Area.

On Wednesday, Basque Minister for Sustainable Mobility, Susana García Chueca, embarked on a two-day visit to Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The objective: to collaborate with other European regions on strategies to promote sustainable cross-border mobility with a particular focus on public transport, especially rail. As part of the Crosusmob project, led by the Basque Government’s public railways network Euskal Trenbide Sarea (ETS), the Basque delegation showcased ongoing initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable mobility. The delegation engaged with public authorities and R&D centres from France, Slovenia, Hungary, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Kicking off the first day of meetings in Aachen (Germany), García Chueca underscored the urgency of the moment: “We are at a pivotal moment for transport policies in Europe. With 2050 as our horizon, the European Union is pursuing climate neutrality with ambition. Transforming our mobility systems is not just desirable, it is essential.” The minister highlighted that the Crosusmob project, led from the Basque Country, “is a clear example of how European regions, one of the Union’s core strengths, are turning the EU’s founding principles into reality. One such principle is eliminating barriers between nations. I cannot think of a better way to achieve this than by making sustainable public transport a seamless experience, even across borders.”

Crosusmob: Fostering Cross-border Sustainable Mobility is a four-year initiative supported by the Interreg Europe programme and funded through ERDF resources. It aims to bring forward best practices in cross-border rail transport and push for policy improvements at regional and national levels to implement the Single European Railway Area. The goal is to eliminate obstacles, making sustainable travel a practical, affordable, and competitive alternative to private cars. Currently, only 7% of rail passenger journeys are cross-border. Experts agree that achieving this goal is especially challenging in cross-border contexts, where differing institutions, management systems, and even languages create additional complexities.

During the first day of talks in Aachen, García Chueca visited the Drielandentrein, the ‘Three Countries Train.’ Completed in summer 2024, this service already links Aachen (Germany), Maastricht (Netherlands), and Liège (Belgium) departing every hour. Known locally as ‘Limax,’ the train streamlines cross-border travel, offering a convenient, transfer-free service designed to support commuters and students moving between the three regions.  

The working session included a wide range of key European stakeholders. In addition to the Basque Government and ETS, attendees included Aachener Verkehrsverbund (the Aachen transport authority responsible for coordinating local public transit), the Region SUD (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France), the Prometni Institut (a Slovenian Ministry of Transport-affiliated research body focused on mobility innovation), the Provincial Government of Drenthe (Netherlands), and the KTI Hungarian Institute for Transport Sciences and Logistics (a state-run research organisation supporting Hungary’s Ministry of Construction and Transport).

The Aachen meetings mark the second phase of the initiative, following an earlier session held in the Basque Country last October. During that event, representatives from across Europe gained insights into the Basque Country’s unique mobility landscape, including its cross-border dynamics with France, its varied public transport operators, the region’s topography, etc. Participants also reviewed the Basque Government’s infrastructure projects and transport planning strategies, that are being put into action.