September always brings something new; it marks, in a way, the end of one year and the start of
a new one, with new upcoming projects whether in terms of work, study, or rearrangements in
life. And this year brings with it a new edition of European Mobility Week. In a moment in
which more generations co-exist than ever before, European Union aims at fostering
intergenerational dialogue and fairness in order to reduce the differences in attitude, values, and
behaviors related to the generational gap that may lead to an intergenerational barrier of
exclusion.
Thinking about European Week Mobility there are different ideas that may be
come to someone’s mind: a campaign for awareness-raising and intergenerational inclusion; a
transition towards greater environmental and digital sustainability; or growing mobility amongst
young people across Europe, because it is accessible. And maybe choosing one does not exclude
the other two. 16–22 September 2026 will be the week during which Europe will be focusing on
raising awareness of sustainable urban mobility through a global campaign covering one hundred
eighty-five initiatives proposed by twenty-eight participating countries.
This year’s main focus is on intergenerational mobility, a form of mobility
conceived and designed for a target group of users who, at different stages of life, face
difficulties and barriers to mobility linked to their respective needs and abilities: it is therefore
centered on the principle of intergenerational inclusivity.
We are not just talking about breaking down geographical, economic, social,
gender or skills-related barriers, but even more so intergenerational ones, aiming for equitable
access to mobility opportunities for different generational groups that coexist, succeed one
another and evolve over time. In its 2026 edition, European Mobility Week invites us to imagine
transport systems that are smart, accessible and inclusive, and capable of meeting different needs
of different generations, both present and future, whilst allowing for a degree of flexibility to
adapt to new scenarios. Therefore, this means being open to change, minimizing the amount of
time and resources spent, and accelerating the process – not to rush ahead, but to keep pace with
what and whom are yet to come.
Being based on the principle of intergenerational equity, this campaign recognizes
the importance of addressing the different challenges faced by a wide and diverse target, whilst
ensuring an equal investment of resources. In response, it will be necessary to devise tailor-made
strategies that can address these needs in a targeted manner and make transport services easily
accessible and user-friendly. For this reason, it is essential to bring together ideas and resources
from each generation, and to do so, it is important to create a safe space for dialogue where
everyone feels at ease – a space where everyone is free to express themselves while also being
able to contribute concretely. This is both the topic and the objective of this year’s upcoming
session, through which we hope to continue moving towards greater youth inclusion as an
indispensable resource in the processes of building the society that is taking shape day by day.
The European Commission aims to involve young people in decision-making
processes and provide them with a space where they can use their voices to shape policies that
are innovative, inclusive and adaptable to a constantly evolving world, in a Europe that is
continually being redefined: to be the future tomorrow, we must be present today.
Furthermore, intergenerational inclusivity goes hand in hand with sustainable,
smart and resilient European mobility, geared towards the digital and environmental transition,
with a single, large-scale, fully modernized trans-European infrastructure. What will follow
immediately is equitable mobility – affordable and accessible in all regions and for all
passengers, including those with reduced mobility – whilst also making the sector more attractive
to workers and reducing the number of casualties by 2050.
Thanks to the mobility strategy, the European Commission has been able to
present a four-year action plan through which the European transport system can navigate this
transition, making resilience a key strength in coping with future crises. By implementing this
strategy, it will be possible to make the transition to an unprecedented net-zero emissions target.
This involves switching to alternative, renewable, and low-carbon fuels for vehicles, expanding
high-speed rail services, and developing further cycling infrastructure. Mobility can thus become
multimodal and automated.
By focusing on sustainable mobility, we are gradually moving towards a policy in
which inclusion is no longer a matter for debate but a matter of fact, in which equity becomes a
deeply conscious choice, and inclusion a starting point for adopting practical policies that can
make accessibility a right. But to achieve this, discussion is just one of the key elements of a
program that unfolds across multiple key points, spanning idea, design and action, before
culminating in the act of dissemination – which does not represent the end of a project but
merely the beginning of a multiplier effect aimed at reaching ever more people.
The transport system represents both a resource and a risk for global society.
Whilst, on the one hand, it contributes to GDP and employment in the EU, on the other it
represents a cost, such as greenhouse gas emissions, various types of pollution and accidents. Through
modernization and decarbonization, it is possible to bring about a historic shift in making
European transport not only more sustainable but also competitive and resilient. Nevertheless, it
is important that this evolution does not overlook rural and remote regions – which need to be
adequately connected – and that the sector involved provides employment opportunities that are
equally sustainable and inclusive. This is why Europe is undergoing a truly historic revolution.
Bringing about change means accepting that something no longer works as it once
did and looking for possible solutions; it means being able to adapt and to view the future as an
ongoing process that requires constant commitment from each and every one of us, and not just
from those institutions that young people often perceive as distant from their everyday lives. By
starting with dialogue, we can arrive at concrete proposals and actions aimed at cross-border
planning that treats every generation as a new and powerful European generation.