Transport Poverty
Transport poverty is a growing challenge within the European Union, with significant consequences for social inclusion and territorial cohesion. Limited access to affordable and reliable mobility options affects many individuals, particularly in rural areas, exacerbating social inequality and connectivity gaps. Key contributing factors are the increasing urban-rural divide in connectivity and the financial pressures linked to the transition toward a climate-neutral economy.
Recognizing this pressing issue, the project “Addressing Transport Poverty: The Role of EU Policy and Funding Instruments” aims to explore solutions to ensure equitable access to transportation services across the EU. This project, commissioned by the EU Committee of the Regions, sets out to provide an overview of the potential contributions of Structural and Cohesion Funds (SCF) in addressing transport poverty and examines the role of EU instruments, such as Cohesion Policy and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, in supporting affordable mobility services.
Panteia brings extensive expertise to this initiative, having executed a range of projects on EU funding, particularly the SMARTA project which looked at how to exploit existing mobility policies and solutions in European rural areas.
The project is ongoing and to be concluded in April 2025. The project will contribute to ongoing discussions on the drafting of Social Climate Plans (SCP) by Member States, the 2025 mid-term review of Cohesion Policy and the potential upcoming reprogramming of the RRF.
