EU’s Tourism Strategy to Include Focus on High-speed Rail for Better Connectivity

European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas speaking during the 3rd Delphi Forum in Brussels.

The improvement of rail connections across Europe, particularly high-speed rail networks, is a priority for the EU, said European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas on Thursday.

Speaking at the 3rd Delphi Forum in Brussels, Tzitzikostas outlined the EU’s strategy for sustainable transport and tourism for the period 2024-2029, calling 2025 a “defining year” for shaping the future of both sectors.

During his speech, the commissioner highlighted his commitment to enhancing rail transport while also safeguarding the European automotive industry, ensuring both remain accessible and affordable for citizens.

Improving rail connections in upcoming European strategy for tourism 

According to Tzitzikostas, improving rail connections across Europe, particularly high-speed rail networks, is a main focus of the first-ever European strategy for tourism that is currently being prepared.

He highlighted the importance of completing the TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network), an initiative designed to create a comprehensive, efficient, and integrated transportation system across the EU, which will link major European cities with high-speed trains, making travel faster and more efficient.

“For instance, the travel time from Hamburg to Copenhagen, currently 4 hours and 20 minutes, will be reduced to just two and a half hours,” the commissioner said. “Citizens and businesses are ready to shift to rail if the service is accessible, reliable, and affordable.”

Access to transport

Moreover, referring to establishing a new transport strategy in Europe, Tzitzikostas stressed the importance of ensuring that all European citizens, regardless of location, have access to affordable, reliable, and safe transport options.

“Every citizen in Europe uses some form of transport every day and expects it to remain affordable, accessible, and safe,” he said.

Commissioner Tzitzikostas reaffirmed that maintaining transport services accessible to all is a priority for the European Commission.

European Action Plan for automotive industry coming up

In addition, during his speech, Tzitzikostas highlighted the importance of the European automotive industry, which is a key driver of innovation, economic prosperity, and job creation.

“The automotive industry is the largest private investor in research and development (R&D) in Europe, with vehicle exports exceeding imports by more than 100 billion euros,” he said, adding that the automotive industry represents 30 million jobs and 7 percent of Europe’s GDP.

It should be mentioned that on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen convened key European industry leaders, social partners, and stakeholders for the launch of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry.

According to the Commission, the dialogue marks the start of an inclusive and collaborative process aimed at addressing critical challenges facing the sector and ensuring its continued success as a major driver of the European economy.

Commissioner Tzitzikostas will present a European Action Plan for the automotive industry on March 5.

Challenges

European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

Referring to the challenges to European stability, Tzitzikostas highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, global competition, the climate crisis, and rising costs of living are all challenges that necessitate a “unified, strategic response”.

The commissioner highlighted his commitment to tackling the challenges facing Europe’s transport and tourism sectors and to ensuring that these sectors contribute to economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

“The goal for the next five years is to strengthen prosperity and competitiveness, defense and security for people, societies and our social model, quality of life, democracy and values, shielding the European Union for the future,” Tzitzikostas said. “In each of these priorities, transport and tourism play a decisive role and that is why these two sectors come with a huge responsibility, and I assure you, we are ready for it.”