President von der Leyen’s 2025 State of the Union speech sets a bold course that resonates strongly with ERTICO’s mission to shape smart and sustainable mobility. Her call for Europe’s “Independence Moment”, anchored in technological sovereignty, energy resilience, and security, underlines the urgency of creating a transport ecosystem that is not only sustainable and digital but also autonomous and resilient in the face of global challenges.
We welcome the President’s recognition that digital and clean technologies are the true pillars of European competitiveness. The proposed EU Competitiveness Fund, the reinforcement of Horizon Europe, and the forthcoming Single Market Roadmap to 2028 will accelerate investment in critical innovations. For the mobility sector, this opens new opportunities to deploy clean, connected, and cooperative transport systems that leverage AI, digital infrastructure, and interoperable solutions. These policies and funding measures provide the foundation for scaling sustainable mobility at pace and across borders.
The European Commission’s ambitious initiatives in AI, quantum computing, and high-performance digital infrastructure are particularly important for transport. Programmes such as InvestAI, the establishment of AI Gigafactories, and the Quantum Europe Strategy position Europe to lead globally in transformative technologies. For the ERTICO Partnership, these developments offer a pathway to embed AI-driven solutions into intelligent transport systems, making mobility safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. At the same time, we remain committed to ensuring that innovation in mobility reflects Europe’s values of trust, ethics, and inclusiveness.
Resilience and security were rightly underlined as central to Europe’s geopolitical readiness. From drone alliances to cross-border surveillance initiatives, it is clear that secure, adaptive, and robust transport networks are integral to Europe’s capacity to defend its people and values. Intelligent transport technologies, ranging from smart logistics to emergency response systems, will play a vital role in strengthening resilience across Europe’s mobility landscape.
We are also encouraged by the Commission’s commitment to regulatory simplification and support for scale-ups. Multi-billion euro funds such as the Scale-Up Europe Fund, combined with omnibus simplification packages, will reduce barriers and accelerate the deployment of critical innovations. This is essential for the ITS and mobility sectors, where rapid deployment and cross-border interoperability can make the difference between pilot projects and truly European-wide impact.
Finally, the President’s focus on people through the Union of Skills strategy and the upcoming Quality Jobs Act is a reminder that technological leadership must be matched by investment in human capital. ERTICO is prepared to contribute its expertise in shaping mobility-related education, training, and workforce development initiatives that equip Europe’s citizens with the skills needed for the digital and green transition.
We stand ready to work with EU institutions, industry, research, and cities to turn this ambitious agenda into concrete mobility solutions. By aligning funding, regulation, and skills with innovation, Europe can lead the world in building a clean, digital, and resilient mobility ecosystem and deliver on the promise of smarter, greener transport for all.
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