Tzitzikostas for a sustainable future for transport and tourism

In his introductory speech during the first day of confirmation hearings in the European Parliament, Mr. Tzitzikostas outlined his priorities as the Commissioner-designate for Sustainable Transport and Tourism and replied to the questions from the MEPs of the TRAN Tourism Committee.

Protecting transport

“It’s time to make our single market really single. For Ail, I will present to you in the first year of my mandate a proposal for a single digital booking and ticketing regulation, improving existing obligations in this area. Passengers’ rights must evolve accordingly, offering protection for an entire journey, including those involving different operators. And let me now move to the other major sector, tourism, which is a major economic activity today in Europe, with a wide-ranging impact on economic growth, employment and social development”. said Mr. Tzitzikostas during the hearing.

If confirmed, he plans to boost the EU’s transport sector competitiveness by adhering to the green and digital transition timelines, completing the Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) network, improving safety, and enforcing EU regulations. To further transport decarbonization, he pledged to present a sustainable transport investment plan in 2025, alongside an EU industrial action plan for the automotive sector.

For enhancing rail connectivity, he proposed linking EU capitals and major cities with high-speed and night trains, as well as introducing a single digital booking and ticketing system for rail within his first year. On tourism, Mr. Tzitzikostas emphasized the EU’s role as a top global destination, committing to a sustainable tourism strategy to support the industry and protect local communities.

Cooperation with the TRAN EP Committee for tourism

On tourism, he said that “Europe is the number one tourist destination” and that EU must maintain its number one destination raking in the world. And in order to do so, he said he is committed to “a strategy for sustainable tourism, to support the industry while preserving the environment and well-being of the local communities. Also, I will cooperate with you, with the TRAN Tourism Committee. I have not yet spoken of the serious shortage of staff, which is a barrier to growth in the transport sector. At the European level, we must mobilize the tools at our disposal to train and prepare workers for the new requirements and opportunities of these professions”.

During the hearing, candidate Tzitzikostas was asked by the socialist Daniel Attard whether he could think of a consider setting up a European Tourism Union “similar to the Health Union to pool resources, address shared challenges, and keep Europe as the world’s top destination”. He replied that “there is a need for a separate agency for tourism; there are more urgent issues to prioritise, particularly funding. While there are current funds available within the MFF, they are insufficient. We need to promote alternative tourism areas that support ecotourism and ensure that tourism income is well distributed among all stakeholders to avoid sustainability and resilience issues in local communities”.

Finally, the German Siegbert Frank Droese provoked him saying that he doesn’t believe that “EU need a commissioner for tourism; national states do it well. How will you ensure that EU initiatives won’t override the cultural identities of Member States? I hope you won’t impose an EU identity and will respect regional identities. Tzitzikostas claimed that “European national identities are part of what makes the EU. This is what the European project is about—each state retains its own character, which enriches the EU as a big family with different identities. I aim to promote the EU as a leading destination precisely because of our cultural diversity. I want to highlight destinations that have been underpromoted over the years”.