Participation of the Commissioner for Environment and Planning at Urban Mobility Days 2025 in Vilnius

Participation of the Commissioner for Environment and Planning at Urban Mobility Days 2025 in Vilnius

Published October 20, 2025

The Commissioner for Environment and Planning within the Office of the Ombudsman recently participated in the Urban Mobility Days 2025 conference held in Vilnius, Lithuania.  The event brought together policymakers, urban planners, academics, and mobility experts from across Europe to discuss the future of sustainable urban transport.

Vilnius, currently holding the title of European Green Capital 2025, served as an apt host for the event.  Vilnius has made significant strides in adopting micromobility solutions, particularly through investments in bicycle infrastructure.  Recognizing the need for sustainable urban transport, the city expanded its network of dedicated cycling lanes, integrated bike-sharing services and improved connectivity between residential areas and key destinations.  EU funding and green transport initiatives supported these developments, while public awareness campaigns encouraged cycling as a viable daily commute option.  The municipality also introduced safer road designs and traffic-calming measures, fostering a more bike-friendly environment. These efforts reflect Vilnius’s commitment to reducing car dependency and lowering emissions.

One of the most insightful presentations was on the city of Leuven, Belgium, which has successfully reimagined its urban mobility approach through inclusive planning and strategic investments in active transport infrastructure.  This was particularly relevant in discussions on the role of urban nodes in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).  As highlighted during the conference, being designated as an urban node not only brings access to EU funding and technical support but also entails clear obligations  -  particularly in reducing transport-related emissions and improving connectivity for both people and goods.

The European Commission also presented updates on its evolving Urban Mobility Framework and Urban Agenda, which aim to provide a more coherent and sustainable vision for transport within cities.  In this context, Malta's warm climate and compact geography make it especially well-suited to adopt micro-mobility solutions such as e-scooters and bicycles.  However, the success of micro-mobility depends heavily on the prior implementation of traffic-calming measures and the development of safe, dedicated infrastructure.

In summary, the Urban Mobility Days 2025 conference offered a valuable platform for Malta to engage with forward-thinking mobility strategies and explore how these can be adapted to the island’s specific context to improve both sustainability and quality of life.