The appointment of Apostolos Tzitzikostas as European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism signals a shift in EU transport policy. This is the first time that the tourism sector is explicitly included in this portfolio, underscoring its importance to the European economy and society, especially for countries like Greece. Tzitzikostas from EPP succeeds Adina Valean with a highly ambitious mandate: he is responsible for advancing the EU’s decarbonization efforts in transportation and supporting a more “resilient” tourism infrastructure. His experience at the Committee of the Regions, where he served as President from 2020 to 2022 and First Vice-President since 2022 gives him a solid background in regional management and European policy, necessary for a position like this.
The 2019-2024 transport commission
During the previous commission exercise, the transport portfolio focused on three strategic pillars: sustainability, digitalization, and resilience. This strategy aligns with the European Green Deal’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
- The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) was a major milestone, mandating that charging stations for electric vehicles and hydrogen refueling infrastructure be set up across Europe. This regulation, alongside the RefuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime directives, supports a greener EU’s transition, away from fossil fuels in transport and aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions progressively in the aviation and maritime sectors. The cumulative impact of these measures is intended to reduce transport-related emissions, which represent the biggest EU’s total emissions.
- More than that, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy introduced initiatives to digitize the European transport networks, with specific emphasis on enhancing connectivity, efficiency, and security. The ERTMS – European Rail Traffic Management System – is one example, aiming at providing a unified digital traffic management system that improves rail safety across Member States. This work in progress infrastructure upgrade has been considered as a great step for the EU’s economic and territorial cohesion, addressing regional connectivity problems, hindering economic development and social integration.
- Finally, the Connecting Europe Facility has funded various projects to close gaps in the Trans-European Transport Network, prioritizing key rail and road links to improve accessibility in far away regions. This network is designed not only for civilian mobility but also to facilitate military transport across the EU, strengthening infrastructure and Europe’s capacity to respond to geopolitical crises.
Priorities for the next commission
With a background in international relations from Georgetown University and European public policy from University College London, Apostolos Tzitzikostas began his political career in Greece, progressing from Member of Parliament to Governor of Central Macedonia and President of the Association of Greek Regions. His experience at the EU’s Committee of the Regions as both President and First Vice-President has deepened his understanding of regional cohesion, and make him a great fit for the transport and tourism portfolio.
According to his mission letter addressed by Ursula Von der Leyen, Tzitzikostas is expected to lead efforts in decarbonization, digitalization, and infrastructure enhancement. One of his biggest projects is the development of a high-speed rail network connecting EU capitals, a core part of the TEN-T initiative, with a target completion date of 2030. This network is intended to provide an alternative to short-haul flights by enabling more frequent night trains across borders. The aim is to reduce short-distance air travel – thus cutting emissions – while providing reliable options for EU citizens. Alongside the rail network, Tzitzikostas will implement an integrated digital ticketing platform, allowing passengers to purchase a single ticket for multimodal travel across the EU. This system aims to facilitate smooth, cross-border travel and enhance passenger rights by simplifying the booking process and ensuring protections in cases of disruptions, a critical step toward the fully digital transformation of the transport sector. Another key responsibility is overseeing investments in advanced transportation technologies, including exploring the hyperloop as a potential future mode of transport. His mandate also includes strengthening infrastructure security, particularly regarding cybersecurity and the continuity of military mobility. This priority aligns with the EU’s defense strategy and addresses vulnerabilities in infrastructure that could be targeted in times of conflict or crisis, ensuring transport continuity across Member States.
In tourism, Tzitzikostas’s portfolio involves promoting sustainable practices within the sector, aiming to make tourism in the EU more resilient to climate impacts. This includes supporting infrastructure improvements in line with climate goals, such as reducing resource use and emissions within tourist facilities, as well as promoting greener travel options. These initiatives are intended to position the EU as a leader in green tourism, which seems vital for the economy and well-being of regions heavily reliant on this industry, as Greece.
Challenges for the hearing
Tzitzikostas faces high expectations from the rail sector, which is pressing for rapid modernization to meet the growing demands for greener and competitive transport. Stakeholders such as the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies have been proactive and vocal about the need for concrete improvements to mobility infrastructure, as the sector grapples between new challenges related to sustainability and a more and more complex world in competition with air travel. Tzitzikostas’s ability to present viable, actionable plans will be critical to convincing the European Parliament that he is prepared to take on the complexities of this demanding portfolio. His nomination comes at a politically sensitive time in Greece, marked by the 2023 Tempe train accident, in which 57 people lost their lives. Although Tzitzikostas had no direct involvement in the incident, his association with the ruling New Democracy party could prompt questions from EU legislators regarding Greece’s infrastructure management and rail safety. This tragic incident has raised deep concerns about the safety and governance of transport infrastructure in Greece, potentially leading MEPs to seek commitments from Tzitzikostas on addressing rail infrastructure security.