In spring 2025, the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN) has been actively advancing initiatives to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our societies today. These include ensuring access to decent housing and managing the impacts of short-term rentals, promoting sustainable urban mobility, advancing a just energy transition, encouraging multimodal travel, addressing rare diseases, and contributing to the European Action Plan.

A key highlight of this period was the EESC’s Civil Society Week, where we placed particular emphasis on strengthening social cohesion and fostering participation in increasingly polarised societies, viewed through the lens of housing.

Through these activities, TEN aims to foster meaningful dialogue among civil society stakeholders, EU policymakers, and experts, working together to develop concrete solutions that promote social cohesion and drive forward a fair transition in the fields of energy and transport.

Uniting for Rare Diseases: Conference Sets the Stage for a European Action Plan

| Warsaw (Poland), 10 April 2025

The TEN section, under the auspices of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council and in collaboration with the Polish Ministry of Health and the Medical University of Warsaw, organised a conference on Towards an EU action plan on rare diseases: national plans and European cooperation. The event brought together European, national and local civil society organisations, along with leading professionals, academics, researchers and representatives from EU institutions. 

The conference featured 350 participants, nearly 1,000 online viewers, 30 speakers, 18 EESC members, 2 Members of the European Parliament, and several European Commission speakers, including a video message from Commissioner Várhelyi. Our stakeholder community has grown stronger and more aligned with our goal of developing a European Action Plan for rare diseases, with clear and measurable objectives. This will enhance the rare disease pathway and foster European collaboration in this crucial area. 

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Single Booking, Seamless Journeys: The EU's Vision for Multimodal Travelling, Preliminary debate in TEN Section

| Brussels, 7 April 2025

Improving single booking and ticketing across the EU took centre stage in a recent TEN Section debate. Victoire Champenois (DG MOVE) presented Eurobarometer findings revealing that, despite strong support for modal shift, booking complexity remains a major barrier. Two key initiatives for 2025, Multimodal Digital Mobility Services and Single Digital Booking and Ticketing Regulations, aim to streamline access and ensure fair platform-operator cooperation. MEP Kai Tegethoff called for a transparent, passenger-first system with equal protection and seamless booking. Meanwhile, Alberto Mazzola (CER) stressed existing operator efforts and warned against overregulation. Members echoed the need for EU-level coordination, multimodal integration, and a user-friendly digital system. However, speakers agreed: success hinges on robust cooperation and sustained investment in Europe’s rail infrastructure.

Short-Term Rentals: Balancing Tourism and Housing Rights, Debate in TEN Section

| Brussels, 7 April 2025

At the request of the upcoming Danish EU Presidency, the EESC is drafting an exploratory opinion on the European Commission’s Affordable Housing Plan, with a focus on the intersection between housing and social inclusion. A TEN Section debate examined the growing impact of short-term rentals on housing access across Europe. While Irene Tinagli, Chair of the EP HOUS Committee, underlined the growing pressure on long-term housing and rental prices, she also acknowledged the role short-term stays play in boosting tourism where hotel capacity is limited. Nicolas Rossignol (ESPON) stressed the need for simple, enforceable regulation, supported by platform cooperation. Julien Dijol (Housing Europe) flagged challenges in social housing, including illegal subletting. Members voiced concerns over gentrification and inequality, and loss of community spaces. As a result, stronger EU–local coordination, fairer rules, and better enforcement emerged as key to protecting both residents and visitors, ensuring housing remains a right, not a luxury.

2025 Council of European Energy Regulators Consumers Focus Conference: Empowering Citizens for a just energy transition

| Brussels, 31 March 2025

TEN Section President Baiba Miltoviča participated in the 2025 CEER Consumers Focus Conference, co-organised by the European Commission. The conference explored the role of decentralised energy systems in empowering consumers, focusing on energy affordability and vulnerable groups. President Miltoviča underlined the continuous commitment of the EESC to a citizen-centric Energy Union, and the potential of individuals to drive the green transition. This commitment is reflected in the new exploratory opinion on the upcoming Citizens Energy Package and the dedicated sessions during this year's conference "Delivering Affordable Energy in Europe" taking place on the 11th of June.

Ljubljana shows the way on Sustainable Urban Mobility

| Ljubljana (Slovenia), 20-21 March 2025

As part of its ongoing work on the own-initiative opinion addressing the planning sustainable urban mobility in the EU, the EESC study group TEN/849 visited Ljubljana — widely seen as a frontrunner in urban mobility innovation. While exploring how SUMPs can ease transport’s negative impacts on health, society, and the environment, members met with local officials and experts to discuss the city’s transformation. Ljubljana’s shift towards a pedestrian-friendly centre and its broader mobility strategy stood out as a model of national and local cooperation. Site visits highlighted initiatives like the Kavalir electric vehicle service in the city centre for the elderly and the Info Point for the EU Cities Mission. With a strong focus on citizen engagement, greener public spaces, and resilience, the visit offered valuable insights to shape the upcoming TEN Section opinion.

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Workshop: Towards More Affordable, Democratic and Sustainable Housing in Europe

| Brussels, 9 March 2025

During Civil Society Week 2025, voices from across Europe came together for an inspiring and dynamic workshop on affordable, democratic, and sustainable housing.

Held on 9 March, the session created a space for civil society actors to exchange ideas, share best practices, and forge new strategies for advocacy. Discussions centred on some of today's most urgent challenges: combating energy poverty, improving energy efficiency, ensuring housing access for young people, and supporting alternative, community-led housing models.

Ensuring Access to Decent Housing Across Europe: Seminar in Warsaw Highlights Key Priorities 

| Warsaw (Poland), 6 March 2025

On 6 March 2025, under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Permanent Group on Services of General Interest, in partnership with Poland’s European Anti-Poverty Network and Korczak University, hosted a high-level seminar in Warsaw. The event shone a spotlight on the urgent need to guarantee all Europeans access to decent, sustainable, and affordable housing. Participants explored how high-quality services of general interest play a vital role in addressing housing needs—particularly for households that are unable to secure suitable accommodation through the market, whether in urban or rural settings. Discussions centred on how to strengthen support systems and develop inclusive strategies that leave no one behind, reaffirming housing as a fundamental pillar of social cohesion and dignity.

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Towards a Unified EU Space Strategy - Preliminary debate on the EU Space Law in TEN Section

| Brussels, 5 February 2025

Space plays a crucial role in Europe’s transport, communication, energy, and security systems — yet the EU space sector still grapples with fragmented governance, limited coordination, and financing gaps, increasing the risk of strategic dependencies. A recent TEN Section debate explored how the upcoming EU Space Act could tackle these challenges. While Ms Sara Dalledonne (ESPI) emphasised its potential to boost competitiveness and legal clarity, she also pointed to the need for stronger oversight on foreign investment and cross-border rules. Prof. Sergio Marchisio (Sapienza University) called for better alignment between national laws and EU efforts. Meanwhile, DG DEFIS officials highlighted the Act’s focus on safety, resilience, and sustainability. Members urged attention to issues like AI, space mining, cohesion, and public engagement.

Paving the Way to Greener Transport - Preliminary debate on the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan in TEN Section

| Brussels, 5 February 2025

A dynamic debate on the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan highlighted the urgent need for long-term, stable funding to meet EU climate goals. While the Commission outlined a vision to decarbonise aviation and maritime transport — requiring €1 billion annually from 2030 — the EIB stressed the importance of investor confidence and clean mobility solutions. At the same time, Fin Mobility called for a technology-neutral approach to road transport, pointing to energy security and military preparedness as essential considerations. Members raised key issues including the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies, support for rural connectivity, and the inclusion of inland waterways. Better data on transport poverty, strong coordination with Member States, and investment in skills and social dialogue were also seen as vital for a fair transition.

Fifth EESC Conference on Energy Affordability – Powering a Fair Transition

| Brussels, 11 June 2025

Energy poverty continues to affect many across Europe. With the EU’s new Action Plan for Affordable Energy aiming to cut energy costs and accelerate structural reforms, the TEN Section and the European Commission (DG ENER) will jointly host its fifth annual conference on 11 June 2025. Building on previous editions, this year’s event will focus on empowering citizens, including those in rural areas, to take an active role in the energy transition. Discussions will explore energy communities, support for vulnerable consumers and working poor, and investment needs to balance affordability with security. The outcomes will contribute to shaping the EU’s Citizens Energy Package and broader energy policies, ensuring a just, inclusive, and resilient transformation in response to mounting geopolitical and environmental challenges.

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Housing for All – the TEN contribution to the Annual meeting of the Economic and Social Councils

| Warsaw (Poland), 25-26 June 2025

John Comer, TEN Section Vice-President and rapporteur for the upcoming EESC exploratory opinion For a European Affordable Housing Plan – the contribution of civil society (requested by the Danish Presidency), will take part in the annual meeting of Presidents and Secretaries-General of Economic and Social Councils, EESC and related institutions from member states. Speaking on the panel 'Housing for all or for a few: designing an affordable housing market promoting social inclusion and demographics', he will present the EESC’s ongoing work to promote inclusive, accessible housing. While national ESCs have developed a Reflection Paper on housing policy and working conditions, the TEN Section has added momentum to the debate, reinforcing the vital role of civil society in addressing Europe’s housing crisis and supporting social inclusion and demographic balance across the EU.

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