Catherine Logan is regional senior vice president, EMEA and APAC, at the Global Business Travel Association
In June, EU citizens will vote in the tenth European Parliament elections as the current five-year term comes to an end. More than 700 seats across 27 countries will be contested. Turnout in 2019 was 50.7 per cent of eligible voters but some polls are predicting a considerable increase on that figure in June. In the last five years EU authorities have tabled and developed a range of laws and legislation that directly impact business travel. Here, Catherine Logan, the GBTA's regional senior vice president, EMEA and APAC, looks at some of those key developments and what the outcome of this year’s elections could mean for travel and sustainability initiatives.
BTN Europe: How does the Global Business Travel Association exert its influence on European policy makers?
Catherine Logan: We engage with European decision-makers to ensure that business travel and its benefits are well understood and accounted for in the EU’s policymaking process. Ahead of the European elections this June, we’ve been looking at what’s been accomplished, what work remains, and how the elections could impact the sector.
BTN Europe: What are the key policies implemented during the current term of the European Parliament and European Commission?
Catherine Logan: The 2019-24 mandate of the European Parliament and European Commission has seen historic transformations for the European Union’s regulatory framework on transport, with the launch of the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 Package, a set of policies aimed at making the continent climate-neutral by 2050. With its emphasis on sustainable transport, a commitment to reducing carbon emissions, as well as new corporate social responsibility and regulatory compliance requirements, the Green Deal is likely to change the way business travel operates in Europe, transitioning towards sustainable modes of transportation to influence travel options and infrastructure development.
BTN Europe: Tell us more about some of the specifics of the Green Deal.
Catherine Logan: An example of the Green Deal in action is the EU’s Aviation Strategy for 2050 which was first put forward in 2019 and aims to maintain the competitiveness of the EU aviation sector while mitigating its environmental impact. It involves modernising air traffic management, enhancing connectivity, and promoting the use of sustainable aviation fuels. These measures aim to bolster environmental sustainability and are likely to influence flight routes, travel costs, and corporate sustainability policies.
BTN Europe: And what about the impact thus far?
Catherine Logan: The effects of such green policies are already palpable in some member states: in France, short-haul flights have been banned between Paris and several cities which are already connected by high-speed rail. A similar plan is currently being considered in Spain. Meanwhile, at the EU level, with the coming into force of RefuelEU, from 2025 aviation fuel suppliers will need to ensure that all fuel made available to aircraft operators at EU airports contains a minimum share of Sustainable Aviation Fuels and a minimum of synthetic fuels from 2030 onwards.
BTN Europe: So what’s next for business travel in Europe?
Catherine Logan: A key file to watch will be the Single European Sky. Dormant for nearly a decade, in the last few years the European institutions have been debating this proposal which would improve the climate and environmental performance of airspace management through better integration of the European airspace. The talks culminated in a deal between the European Parliament and European Council in early March. The proposed law attempts to improve the performance, organisation and management of European airspace and the provision of the air navigation services. However, the lack of major changes in the existing legislation may mean a very reduced impact on European airspace. In addition, the deal reached between negotiators is a very precarious one, with at least six member countries asking the Belgian Presidency of the Council to modify it. The European Commission has also not endorsed the agreement and could decide to withdraw the legislation and restart the whole legislative process from scratch.
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.