The European Commission, which employs more than 22 000 people, is encouraging its staff to walk to work or to use public transport under plans agreed in March. According to Administration Commissioner Siim Kallas, the mobility plan sends a strong message regarding environmental protection and covers all journeys by commission staff, both between home and work and between commission offices.
According to Commission statistics, 38% of its staff use public transport to go to work while 44% use cars. The mobility plan aims to cut the number of staff using private cars by 9% by the year 2009 and to raise the use of public transport from 38% to 45%. The intention is also to push up bicycle use and walking to 19% and car pooling by 50%.
From next year, the commission will make a 50% contribution to any public transport season ticket although staff members will be eligible for this offer only if they give up their commission car parking rights.
