Scope:

Evaluation of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009.

Evaluation findings:

In general, the adoption of the Regulation has led to positive effects compared to the situation prior to when it entered into force. The analysis indicates that it is more relevant, effective and efficient than national legislation on access to the international market for bus and coach services and on the functioning of the internal market. This provides support to the conclusion that an EU approach in the form of a Regulation is the most suitable way to ensure access to the market for bus and coach services.

The evaluation showed that the regulation is only partly effective in achieving its original objective of promoting coach and bus services as a sustainable alternative to individual car transport. It found that the opening of national markets for regular services by coach and bus creates a critical mass of operators who then also introduce international services, resulting in a greater impact on the number of international routes and service frequencies than pan-European legislation alone. In particular, the following issues have been identified:
- The inter-urban coach and bus sector has failed to grow at a rate comparable to that of other transport modes and its modal share has continued to decline over an extended period.
- There are obstacles in national markets hindering the development of inter-urban coach and bus services.
- International regular services by coach and bus, without competitive inter-urban services, constitute less appealing service offerings to users.
- The scope of the objectives of the original Regulation did not cover the problem of discrimination in access to terminals.
- There are excessive administrative costs of entry.

Which objective(s) did the Commission pursue?

The initiative aims at removing restrictions on access to inter-urban markets and at preventing discriminatory access to public terminal facilities. It seeks also to simplify and update administrative procedures so that excessive administrative costs of entry are reduced.

This proposal will improve the mobility of citizens over longer distances and increase the use of sustainable transport modes. It will lead to services that are more responsive to citizens’ needs, in particular for those with lower incomes, with the added benefit of providing environmental, economic and social benefits. The proposal benefits the growing global demand for connectivity from all geographical areas and ensures accessibility for a broader range of the population. This contributes directly to the Commission's priorities of Jobs and Growth and Energy Union.

Estimated savings and benefits

The proposal intends to simplify and standardise administrative procedures, remove restrictions on access to inter-urban markets and prevent discriminatory access to public terminal facilities.

It has been estimated that the proposal could generate EUR 183 million net cumulative CO₂ emission costs savings and net cumulative savings in air pollution costs of EUR 590 million. It has the potential to create 85,000 new jobs in 2030. It is expected to reduce travel fares, increase frequency and improve availability of services. It should generate savings for businesses and administrations in the range of EUR 1,450 million due to standardise authorisation procedure and of EUR110 million due to the improvement of terminal access. It will increase the transport activity of coach by about 11 % in 2030 relative to the baseline and by almost 1 percentage point in terms of modal share. It should improve connectivity of disadvantaged social groups by 62 billion passenger-kilometres in 2030 relative to the baseline and it should contribute to lower accident costs of EUR 2.8 billion.