BTN Europe: And what’s the latest on CountEmissionsEU?

Catherine Logan: From a sustainability angle, the implementation of CountEmissionsEU, a voluntary EU methodology for the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from freight and passenger transport, is also on the agenda. The methodology – likely to be adopted before the end of the current session – will be applied to transport chains which are partly outside the EU territory and uses a “well-to-wheel” approach for measuring emissions: this means considering the entire life cycle of a fuel, from its extraction or production (the “well”) to the point where it enters the vehicle’s tank (the “wheels”). The establishment of a harmonised framework for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector would make it easier for travel providers to ensure that the right data on emissions is provided, and a common calculation methodology is in place. This would pave the way for effective decarbonisation of the business travel sector which is currently hindered by fragmented methodologies.

BTN Europe: What else will the new European Parliament have on its plate?

Catherine Logan: The upcoming mandate will not only be about new sustainable and competitive policies; it will also involve a lot of work to implement already approved legislation. A key example of this for business travel will be the implementation of ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), a new way for EU member states to conduct pre-travel screening to assess security and migration risks before issuing a Schengen visa. Business travellers will benefit from improved travel safety and easier border control processes, as well as a reliable and early indication of their admissibility into the Schengen area.

BTN Europe: And what about multimodal transport policies?

Catherine Logan: In terms of the travel distribution ecosystem, the European Commission is expected to introduce legislation to modernise and make more competitive Europe’s ticket distribution system with the goal of enhancing multimodal travel. Multimodal trips have been shown to substantially reduce emissions from travel and to increase the efficiency of trips by allowing passengers to enjoy the advantages of different modes. The EU wants to make it easier for passengers to book such trips. Among business travellers, there is growing demand for the ability to combine different transport options within one ticket and including greener transportation options. An EU legislative framework to facilitate this would help the transition of business travel towards more sustainable options. GBTA will continue to engage with policymakers in the next mandate to ensure that new regulations deliver sound policies that put passengers and the planet first while ensuring the sector can continue to thrive, connecting people and contributing to Europe’s economy.

BTN Europe: How could the outcome of the European elections affect our industry?

Catherine Logan: With election season nearly in full swing, some clear themes echo across the political landscape. In several party manifestos, there is a palpable fatigue towards the EU Green Deal and its ensuing regulations to account for the environmental impact of the European economy across all sectors. This legislative lassitude was most acutely felt earlier this year when farmers occupied and blocked the streets of Brussels for several days protesting against excessive bureaucracy. In response to such outcries, many parties have chosen to attenuate their environmental commitments in favour of more explicit calls for keeping Europe a competitive market.

BTN Europe: What are GBTA’s hopes for – or expectations of – the next European Parliament?

Catherine Logan: Over the last five years, GBTA has remained a committed partner in working with European institutions to advise on how the business travel sector can continue to connect and bring Europeans together in a changing world. Business travel has an important role to play in helping decarbonise the economy and – as a significant contributor to the EU’s economy – we understand that the conditions for implementing the Green Deal’s ambitions need to be business-oriented to succeed. GBTA has just published its Policy Priorities to share our vision and our recommendations to European policymakers for the next mandate. We hope that policymakers will continue to provide a predictable pathway for greening the European economy while allowing key sectors – like business travel – the predictability they need to make the right investments to stay competitive and connected.