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Netherlands to host meetings of THE PEP partnerships on active mobility and sustainable tourism mobility

Netherlands to host meetings of THE PEP partnerships on active mobility and sustainable tourism mobility

Walking and cycling in NL

The upcoming meetings of the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) Partnership on Active Mobility and the Partnership on Sustainable Tourism Mobility will focus on challenges in promoting and developing policies for walking and cycling, as well as exchange views on sustainable mobility in tourism.  

The meetings will take place back-to-back from 23 to 26 January 2023 in Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague in The Netherlands. This is the first time that a UNECE member State is hosting both meetings of the partnerships at the same time, which will facilitate the exchange of ideas and expertise among members.  

Co-led by Austria and France, and hosted by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, and the City of Rotterdam, both events will serve as platforms for participants to connect with experts from the Netherlands and peers in government, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society.  

Meeting of THE PEP Partnership on Active Mobility 

The meeting of the Partnership on Active Mobility – led by the Ministry of Climate Action of Austria and the Ministry of Transport of France – will focus on challenges that experts and policymakers encounter when promoting and developing policies for walking and cycling. Participants will try to gather ideas based on the experience from the Netherlands for the implementation of recommendations for the Pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion, as well as draw inspiration for further development of the Pan-European Master Plan for Walking. 

They will aim to discuss inputs and provide proposals for THE PEP strategy on transport, health and environment and options for a possible legal instrument. 

The meeting will take place from 23 to 25 January 2023 and will include peer-to-peer discussions, cycling tours, walking tours and expert presentations in Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague.   

“Since 2014, THE PEP Partnership on Active Mobility is a fruitful cooperation aiming to encourage policymakers, urban planners and transport engineers to promote active mobility throughout the pan-European region,” said Clément Beaune, Minister of Transport of France. “Developing walking and cycling should be a priority for all public authorities willing to tackle climate change, public health and economic development challenges. THE PEP framework is a precious tool to achieving this goal. The cycling masterplan approved in 2021 was a helpful document shedding light on best practices from European countries. I am confident that the walking masterplan under construction will be just as useful. I wish to thank the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands for organizing this meeting and giving us the opportunity to exchange and learn about practices in the Netherlands.” 

Meeting for THE PEP Partnership on Sustainable Tourism Mobility 

The meeting of the Partnership on Sustainable Tourism Mobility – led by the Ministry of Climate Action of Austria and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy responsible for tourism – will further dialogue on cycling infrastructure and multimodal mobility option. Participants will discuss requirements for mobility in terms of trends, behaviour and the future of mobility, and draw inspiration for further development of THE PEP Toolbox on Sustainable Tourism Mobility. 

Taking place in Utrecht and The Hague on 25 and 26 January 2023, the third meeting of the newly launched partnership will feature expert presentations, exchange of valuable insights, as well as cycling and walking tours.  

Note for editors 

THE PEP 

Since 2002, the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP), has been a unique intersectoral and intergovernmental policy framework to promote mobility and transport strategies that integrate environmental and health concerns. The secretariat of the programme is jointly hosted by the UNECE Environment and Sustainable Transport Divisions and by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. For more information visit https://thepep.unece.org  

Partnership on Active Mobility 

The Partnership on Active Mobility promotes cycling, walking and public transport as an equal and sustainable mode of transport. It strives to support the implementation of the first ever pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion, which identifies cycling as an environment-friendly, healthy and sustainable form of mobility throughout Europe. Through the collaboration of member States, intergovernmental organizations and civil society, the partnership seeks to refine guidelines and tools to further promote active mobility all over Europe. It is led by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and the French Ministry of Transport. More information available here: https://thepep.unece.org/partnership-active-mobility-previously-partnership-cycling-promotion     

Partnership on Sustainable Tourism Mobility 

The Partnership on Sustainable Tourism Mobility was launched by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism in 2021. It is founded on the objective of creating greater awareness for climate-friendly multimodal mobility to promote sustainable tourism. As more travellers factor environmental impacts into their travel behaviour, this partnership aims to increase institutional capacity of involved organizations to develop convenient mobility services for the benefit of the tourism sector. The partnership collaboratively works to promote strategies, platforms and exchange of information. It is led by Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy responsible for tourism. More information available here:  https://thepep.unece.org/partnership-sustainable-tourism-mobility  

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