15 civil society, environmental, mobility, city and workers’ organisations call on EU and national policymakers to implement IEA Recommendation 3 and rapidly expand affordable, reliable public transport across Europe.
Read the full Joint Statement here.
As oil prices surge in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East, creating what the International Energy Agency (IEA) describes as the largest energy shock in history, a coalition of 15 European organisations has issued a joint call on policymakers to urgently act on IEA Recommendation 3: incentivising a shift from private cars to public transport and active mobility.
Road transport fuels account for approximately two-thirds of oil use in many European countries, with 60% of that consumption driven by private passenger cars. Yet despite Europe having some of the world’s most extensive public transport systems, Eurostat data reveals that 51% of EU residents never used public transport in 2024, leaving millions exposed to volatile fuel prices with no viable alternative.
European households collectively spend €650 billion per year on the operation of private cars. Meanwhile, spikes in oil prices mean the EU is paying around €90 million a day more for oil destined for private cars.
The case for Public Transport: economic, social and strategic
Public transport is an economic engine, a social equaliser, and a strategic asset. Urban and local public transport contributes between €130 and €150 billion per year to the European economy, and a landmark study of Barcelona found that every €1 invested in public transport generated €6.50 in regional economic returns. The sector is also among the EU’s largest local employers, supporting 2 million jobs across the continent.
At the same time, the economic cost of traffic congestion across Europe is estimated at €100 billion annually — equivalent to 1% of the EU’s GDP — a figure that will only grow if car dependency deepens.
And the public will for change is clear: according to a recent survey by POLITICO and beBartlet, 65% of Europeans support increased public transport investment, even if it means higher taxes.
A crisis that must be a turning point
The coalition, representing mobility operators, environmental and social NGOs, disability organisations, city networks, trade unions, and youth groups, warns that public transport authorities across Europe are already under severe strain. Budget cuts, staff shortages, deferred maintenance, and the absence of services in rural and peripheral areas are leaving citizens with no real choice but to rely on private cars.
EU private cars consume over 1.2 billion barrels of oil annually. This dependency is a fundamental strategic vulnerability for European households, cities, and the economy as a whole.
What policymakers can do: 5 urgent priorities
The coalition calls on European, national, regional, and local policymakers to urgently act on IEA Recommendation 3 by committing to the following principles:
- Stable, long-term funding for public transport and active mobility at all levels of government, covering operations, maintenance, and zero-emission vehicle investment.
- Reliable, integrated transport services across all cities and regions, with no barriers based on location, gender, age, physical ability, or socio-economic status.
- Sufficient staff and fair working conditions to ensure high-quality services and the capacity to grow the public transport offer.
- Continued support for the green and digital transition in public transport, with meaningful stakeholder involvement in mobility policy design.
- Consistent investment in active mobility — including safe walking and cycling infrastructure — to complement and connect public transport networks.
“This crisis must be a wake-up call for European policymakers to treat public transport as a strategic public service. When fuel becomes too expensive and no alternatives exist, the consequences for households and communities can be catastrophic.”
— Joint Statement of Signatory Organisations
Signatories
Clean Cities • Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe • Eurocities • European Environmental Bureau • European Metropolitan Transport Authorities • European Network on Independent Living • European Passenger Federation • European Transport Safety Council • European Transport Workers’ Federation • Friends of the Earth Europe • International Federation of Pedestrians • International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Europe • POLIS • SOLIDAR • Youth and Environment Europe
