The ETF welcomes the stronger emphasis placed by the European Commission on sustainable transport in the 2025 Country-Specific Recommendations of the European Semester. We are encouraged to see 15 Member States explicitly urged to invest in public rail and urban transport — including commitments to upgrade infrastructure and electrify fleets. These are long-overdue steps towards a more sustainable and inclusive transport system.
It is also positive that some recommendations call for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, improving intermodality, and tackling road congestion through better public transport planning — clear recognition that transport transformation must be people-centred and environmentally responsible.
However, while the Commission rightly highlights the need to attract and retain workers through reskilling and inclusion, it largely overlooks the issue of job quality. Only three countries — the Netherlands, Italy and Slovenia — were told to improve employment conditions. This is deeply disappointing, considering the widespread use of precarious contracts, declining working conditions, and labour shortages across Europe’s transport sectors.
Transport workers are central to Europe’s climate and mobility goals. Their voices and working conditions must be a core part of every national reform plan. We call on the Commission and Member States to ensure that the transition is not only green — but also fair and just.
