IRU highlights the key role played by private bus and coach operators in providing solutions to urban traffic congestion and calls for financial support to deliver even cleaner and more efficient transport services. 

The potential impact of the European environmental ambitions on public procurement rules dominated discussions on the panel tackling EU regulatory reform at Persontrafik, one of Europe’s highlight events for the public transport industry. 

IRU’s senior advisor on passenger transport, Raluca Marian, spoke in Stockholm last week about the planned EU legislative reforms for the bus and coach sector in the European Commission’s Mobility Packages.

She warned that the proposed revision by the European Commission on public procurement could make it more difficult for private operators to access public service contracts.

New legislative proposals on open data, market access and social aspects, which are being intensely debated now at EU level, were also addressed. 

Challenges in urban mobility in the context of efforts to cut emissions while ensuring efficient transport to growing populations will be a hot topic at the IRU World Congress next week.