Call from the EU to Türkiye: A common vision for sustainable transportation
As the European Union aims to reduce transportation emissions by 90 percent and achieve climate neutrality by 2050, Turkey is taking steps in line with this vision. In an exclusive interview with our newspaper, Maria Luisa Wyganowski, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, assessed Türkiye's potential, outlined current projects, and emphasized the importance of cooperation for sustainable cities.
How do you see Türkiye aligning with the EU's sustainable transport and Green Deal priorities?
As part of the European Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, the European Union has set itself ambitious targets: reducing emissions from transport by 90 percent by 2050, achieving climate neutrality, and making mobility safe, digital, and accessible for all. These strategies are binding on EU Member States and are already driving real change across Europe, from zero-emission city logistics to the expansion of charging infrastructure.
Turkey has not yet committed to these policies, but with EU support, it has begun to reflect similar goals through the SKUP Turkey project. This project has prepared a White Paper on Sustainable Urban Transport, reflecting many EU priorities and adapting them to Türkiye's specific context. It sets clear targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050. These include expanding metro and tram systems, expanding the number of 250,000 charging points, and increasing the share of sustainable modes of transport to 60 percent. The EU now expects the Turkish government to adopt this White Paper so that these targets can move beyond mere aspirations into shared national objectives.
Both EU policy and the White Paper emphasize shared mobility, such as car sharing, bike sharing, and e-scooters, as everyday alternatives to the private car. These services are already transforming European cities and could be transformative for Turkey as well.
How does the EU view micromobility, electric mobility and digitalization in Türkiye?
For the EU, these are the three pillars of the mobility transformation. EU legislation such as the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive requires Member States to establish dense charging networks for electric vehicles. EU digital policies are improving real-time mobility data and integrated ticketing. At the same time, micromobility and shared services across Europe are reducing reliance on private cars.
Türkiye has great potential in this area. Citizens are rapidly embracing new modes, from shared scooters to ride-hailing apps. However, the SKUP Turkey White Paper highlights what remains missing: national standards, a central authority to coordinate efforts, and clear regulatory frameworks. Therefore, the EU underscores the need for a National Sustainable Urban Transport Coordination Center. Such an institution would enable Türkiye to scale shared mobility services in line with European best practices and investor expectations.
What concrete cooperation exists between the EU and Türkiye in this field today?
Our cooperation brings together EU policy and Turkish practices.
• Planning and policy. Through IPA II, the EU invested approximately €35 million in nine Turkish cities, including Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Düzce, Konya, Eskişehir, Kocaeli, Gaziantep, and Mersin. These investments were used for Sustainable Urban Transport Plans (SUMPs). These plans put European policy principles into practice at the local level: safer cycle paths, reliable buses, integrated ticketing, and shared mobility services. SUMPs are where strategies connect with citizens' daily lives.
• City networks. Turkish cities are encouraged to join CIVITAS, the EU-funded program and community of cities working on sustainable mobility, and POLIS, the European network that strengthens the voice of cities in transport policies. Through these, municipalities can test solutions together and showcase their successes.
• Policy dialogue. The SKUP White Paper provides a bridge between EU strategies and the Turkish context. Its adoption would demonstrate Türkiye's readiness to align its urban mobility vision with European practices and global climate goals.
What kind of financial and technical support does the EU provide?
Financially, IPA III (2021–2027) continues to provide funding to Türkiye to support climate and mobility reforms. During IPA II, 10 Turkish cities received grants totaling approximately €35 million for sustainable urban transport interventions. Beyond grants, EU investment platforms such as EFSD+ are mobilizing billions of euros by risk-sharing with international financial institutions such as the EIB, EBRD, KfW, and AFD.
On the technical side, EU programs like CIVITAS bring cities together to test solutions like zero-emission buses, shared mobility hubs, or digital ticketing. Through ELTIS, the EU's urban mobility information hub, Turkish cities have access to guidelines, case studies, and tools to implement EU-style solutions. These mechanisms ensure that European strategies don't remain abstract but instead deliver tangible improvements in citizens' daily mobility.
What are the most effective policies against traffic congestion and pollution in Turkish cities?
The EU's Urban Mobility Framework promotes a range of measures rather than single solutions:
• Prioritizing buses and trams in traffic so they are faster than cars.
• Imposing a 30 km/h speed limit in residential areas, reducing accidents and making streets safer for children.
• Expanding safe bicycle infrastructure and walkable streets.
• Implementation of low and zero emission zones in city centers.
• Scaling up shared mobility services, which reduces vehicle ownership, parking demand and emissions.
• Use of digital tools such as integrated ticketing and real-time applications.
These policies, already in use across Europe, are reflected in the measures proposed in Türkiye's White Paper. If Türkiye adopts the White Paper and aligns with EU strategies, citizens will see less traffic congestion, cleaner air, and healthier streets in their neighborhoods.
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM WYGANOWSKI
Sustainable mobility isn't about a distant future; it's about ensuring children can walk to school safely today, workers can get to work on time, and families can breathe cleaner air. Shared mobility services, alongside public transport, are at the heart of this transformation. The EU invested in Türkiye's SUMPs and urban mobility planning because we believe in this vision.
We now invite more Turkish cities to join CIVITAS and POLIS, and we encourage the Turkish government to adopt the White Paper so that European policies and strategies become common goals in Türkiye. Together, we can make Turkish cities pioneers in the global transition to green and smart mobility.
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