by Walther Ploos van Amstel
As part of the EU single market strategy adopted in May 2025, a new EU Delivery Act is proposed to replace the Postal Services Directive and the Cross-border Parcels Regulation in Q4 2026. Reform of EU rules on postal services will focus on delivery as a service, ensuring that people and businesses can receive deliveries …
Crowd-shipping delivery drivers via online platforms are becoming increasingly common in last-mile delivery sector. Unlike zero-hour contract workers, these drivers are classified as independent contractors or freelancers, allowing providers to bypass employment legislation regarding zero-hour contracts. Platform work Last-mile providers engaging in these practices use their branded apps to onboard drivers as independent contractors, who …
The European Union (EU) has agreed to decrease carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from trucks, buses, and trailers. Negotiators from the EU Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). The primary goal is to reduce CO2 emissions in the road transport sector and establish …
the European Commission has proposed ambitious new CO2 emissions targets for new heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) from 2030 onwards. These targets will help to reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector. Trucks, city buses, and long-distance buses are responsible for over 6% of total EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and more than 25% of GHG emissions …
Some policymakers and unions have challenged the “gig economy” model of engaging independent workers and call for a reclassification of independent platform workers as employees. This policy shift would imply a move from a flexible work model, where couriers decide when and where to work, towards an inflexible work model, where the platforms or other …
To support the transition to cleaner, greener, and smarter mobility, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the European Commission adopted four proposals that will modernize the EU’s transport system. By increasing connectivity and shifting more passengers and freight to rail and inland waterways, by supporting the roll-out of charging points, alternative refueling …
The European Commission has published its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy with an Action Plan involving 82 initiatives that should guide transport policies in Europe for the next four years. The strategy also includes transport industry transition targets by 2030, 2035, and 2050.
The European Union wants to bring more climate-friendly cars on the road by 2030. New cars should produce 37,5 percent less CO2 than in 2021 (95 grams per Kilometer). For light commercial vehicles, the 2030 target is set at a CO2 reduction of 31 percent. The automotive industry criticized the new rules as excessive and unrealistic.
Despite its environmental benefits, the amount of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in use within the European Union 28 is still very limited. Poor penetration might be explained by certain factors that dissuade potential buyers. To balance these factors and promote electro-mobility, EU Member States have established incentives to increase demand. However, the various measures are scattered.
In the past two years, Ecorys supported the European Commission via the ‘Study on urban mobility – Preparation of EU guidelines on urban logistics’. This study was led by a consortium formed by Ecorys, University of Antwerp, University of Lisbon, and Prof. Laetitia Dablanc.