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UITP and EIB sign MoU to strengthen cooperation in transforming mobility

Posted: 9 December 2021 | | No comments yet

By signing the MoU, UITP and the European Investment Bank have committed to collaborate in supporting ambitious urban mobility strategies, with public transport and active mobility as the backbone.

UITP and EIB sign MoU to strengthen cooperation in transforming mobility

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their ongoing cooperation in various fields.

Directly after EIB’s Vice President, Kris Peeters, and UITP’s Secretary General, Mohamed Mezghani, signed the MoU, the technical teams of both organisations continued the meeting to discuss potential areas of further collaboration.

With a vision of sustainable and healthy cities, EIB and UITP play a significant role in transforming mobility and transport for a low-carbon future in Europe and beyond. They will collaborate in supporting ambitious urban mobility strategies, with public transport and active mobility as the backbone.

Together with long term integrated land use and transport planning, as well as a modal shift towards public transport, the MoU foresees the collaboration in the deployment of zero-emission public transport fleets. It also looks towards improving public transport infrastructure to meet ambitious environmental goals.

“I am very glad to have this opportunity to formalise a long term cooperation with the world’s most prominent association of stakeholders in the urban public transport sector. Our two institutions are highly committed to sustainable urban transport. We will be working together to help transport to achieve its climate goals and UITP’s stakeholders to overcome the challenges that they face in managing innovation and securing funding,” said Kris Peeters, Vice President of the European Investment Bank.

UITP and the EIB recently collaborated in a number of initiatives. In May 2021, for example, they released the knowledge brief on the second-hand city bus market in Europe. The document discussed the potential of the 15,000 city buses that are removed from operation in Europe each year. By interviewing UITP members and other stakeholders, the brief investigates the current situation and identifies factors hampering a viable second-hand market in Europe.

The topic of circularity is becoming increasingly relevant in Europe, as governments are increasingly committed to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This results in dismissed buses that either need to be scrapped or sold to responsible operators through the second-hand market.

Following up on the long standing collaboration on zero-emission buses, UITP and EIB will work together on encouraging the ‘Total Cost of Owning’ thinking within public transport authorities and operators on bus markets. The organisations will also work on financing concepts for technology transition as an investment opportunity. This is part of UITP’s suggestions to the new EIB Transport Lending Policy.

In addition, mobility and gender is a key topic. In recent years, UITP and its members all around the world have been working with a number of partners, like UN Women, to collect data, provide technical assistance, spread awareness and advocate for inclusive public transport. The ultimate goal is to better serve all passengers and promote the benefits of a diverse workforce.

Finally, the two parties will explore synergies for the development of advisory services to better structure viable transport projects through technical assistance and capacity building programmes in different countries.

“Our collaboration with the European Investment Bank is key for UITP and has already proven very fruitful over the past years. Not only do we bring together public transport and urban mobility stakeholders, but this partnership helps to generate knowledge and expertise. Especially in the highly relevant fields of circular economy, and funding and financing. Our members can also benefit directly though opportunities for funding from EIB,” said Mohamed Mezghani,
UITP’s Secretary General.