Jan-Christoph OETJEN

Mobility is at the core of the European idea. I grew up in a small village in the northern part of Germany. Back then, mobility was something that connected me to the world. Whether it was during a school exchange to France, where I fell in love with the country, or my current role as a Member of the European Parliament, it is only possible due to the great mobility in and throughout Europe (although everything is much easier today, of course). But I am not alone in this. Travelling in a foreign destination has never been easier. Services are becoming more modern and more accessible. We must ensure that this remains the case, and that mobility continues to be a matter close to the hearts of all citizens in Europe.

For me, it is of course important that people can get around easily and quickly. But this also means that mobility options must be sustainable. The goal must remain ambitious, and this is only possible if we consider all future technologies and keep an open competition on the market. I would like to see flying become just as sustainable as train travel. To achieve this, we must support bold projects and rethink mobility, especially in urban areas.

The EU can play a key role, especially in EU-wide projects. One topic that is particularly important to me is multimodal travel. In future, it should be possible to travel from Helsinki to Tuscany using a single app, with everything from flights to e-scooters covered in one application. To achieve this, we need to focus on an easy ticketing system and include and connect urban mobility in the entire approach. Smooth interaction between all modes of transport and mobility services can be a huge opportunity for people in Europe.