Greece pushes for cleaner transport supporting SUMPs uptake

Greece is making strides towards a sustainable transport system, aiming to embrace cleaner mobility and support the uptake of electric vehicles. With a focus on sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs), the  Recharge and Refuel: Clean, Smart, and Fair Urban Mobility project is designed to help Greece contribute to the European Commission’s target of achieving climate neutrality in at least 100 European cities by 2030. By fostering a transport sector that prioritises environmental responsibility and efficiency, the project aligns with the European Commission’s sustainable and smart mobility strategy.

Funded by the European Union's Technical Support Instrument in partnership with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support, the initiative is implemented by the International Transport Forum (ITF) in collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. 

The Greek government has committed to implementing SUMPs that are tailored to local needs, recognising the diverse geographical and socio-economic conditions across municipalities. The ITF is leading a strategic initiative to empower local authorities to adopt effective, sustainable urban mobility measures through a robust benchmarking exercise and a series of stakeholder consultations. These activities have resulted in two practical decision-making tools, designed to aid municipalities in selecting appropriate SUMP measures and evaluating their impact. Detailed reports provide background research and tailored recommendations, with user-friendly tools available in Excel format.

Key policy recommendations for sustainable urban mobility:

• Balanced transport options: Develop resilient transport systems that serve both local residents and tourists, ensuring an adaptable mix of transport modes.
• Public engagement support: Allocate resources for public consultations to embed citizen engagement in transport planning.
• Coordinated regulatory framework: Establish regulations to foster cooperation among local, regional, and national authorities and private mobility providers, ensuring effective implementation of SUMPs.
• Strategic integration: Clarify how SUMPs relate to other land use and transport planning policies to promote consistency across sectors.

Enhanced mobility data management recommendations:

• Centralised spatial databases: Maintain spatial databases that are project-independent to support long-term urban planning.
• Strengthened data analysis capacity: Invest in spatial analysis capabilities to support comprehensive transport planning.
• National data streamlining: Simplify data provision processes at the national level and set clear reporting guidelines for transport service providers.
• Guidance and standardisation: Provide clear guidance on household surveys, along with standardised data collection processes and indicators for uniform data management across the country.

Urban freight activity monitoring recommendations:

• Stakeholder collaboration: Engage with freight stakeholders to overcome data collection challenges, ensuring consistent and accurate data for freight management.
• Data collection via surveys: Use surveys strategically to gather essential freight data, enabling robust indicator-based monitoring.

Read the summary report here.

Author: Jonathan De Vriendt

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.