POLIS Position Paper on EU Policy Agenda for Cities

Picture from the POLIS Website

POLIS has submitted a position Paper to DG REGIO to help shape the EU Policy Agenda for Cities, a key initiative to streamline EU support for urban areas and better align policies with local realities. POLIS calls for a stronger recognition of urban mobility as a core pillar of Europe’s competitiveness, climate resilience, and digital transition.

The new Agenda is expected to clarify how EU instruments can better serve cities, ensuring they are fully equipped and empowered. POLIS believes that urban mobility must be recognized as a strategic, standalone policy field within the EU Policy Agenda for Cities, with dedicated teams, instruments, and funding streams across DGs.

The Agenda should be implemented with cities, focusing on resilient and future-proof mobility systems, unified EU capacity-building framework, direct, reliable access to EU and private financing, and co-designing the EU Competitiveness Fund with cities. POLIS reaffirms its role as a bridge between local realities and European ambitions, working to empower cities in shaping the future of sustainable urban mobility.

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The full position paper can be accessed on the POLIS Website by clicking here

Horizon Europe: over EUR 630 million available to fund projects

Symbolic Picture by Jai79 on Pixabay

The European Commission has launched new calls for projects under Horizon Europe’s 2025 Work Programme for Cluster 5, which focuses on Climate Action, Energy, and Mobility.

A total of EUR 636.6 million in EU funding is available under these calls covering different areas:

• Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition (HORIZON-CL5-2025-02, HORIZON-CL5-2025-06, HORIZON-CL5-2025-01-Two-Stage).
• Climate sciences and responses for the transformation towards climate neutrality (HORIZON-CL5-2025-06, HORIZON-CL5-2025-05-Two-Stage).
• Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply (HORIZON-CL5-2025-02, HORIZON-CL5-2025-01-Two-Stage).
• Clean and competitive solutions for all transport modes (HORIZON-CL5-2025-04, HORIZON-CL5-2025-03-Two-Stage).
• Safe, Resilient Transport and Smart Mobility services for passengers and goods (HORIZON-CL5-2025-04).

CINEA runs parts of the program, targeting energy, climate action, and mobility research activities. The aim is to accelerate the twin green and digital transitions, contributing to the EU’s climate goals and increasing energy resilience. The Commission has launched new calls for project proposals under Cluster 5, following the adoption of the Horizon Europe 2025 work program.

All funding information and details can be found by clicking on the link to CINEA’s website below.

Cinea.ec.europa.eu 

Germany gives authorisation for test of remote-controlled inland vessels

Symbolic picture by Jerzy Góreckion Pixabay

Germany has given HGK Shipping the first formal authorisation to test remote-controlled inland vessels in its network of canals. On May 13, in Berlin, HGK CEO Steffen Bauer received the authorisation from Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder.

With remote guidance from a control centre in Duisburg, the trial project is applicable to a coupled barge convoy that operates between Scharnebeck and Salzgitter. At first, the entire crew will stay on board, and trials with a smaller crew will follow.

Utilising “SeaFar” technology, the initiative seeks to address the growing scarcity of qualified ship operators. After thesuccessful completion of initial trials and safety assessments, the General Directorate for Waterways and Shipping (GDWS) approved it. The project is the first step towards a scalable model for digitally enhanced inland transport, according to HGK.

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Transportjournal.com