Sant rails against privatised public transport

Labour MEP Alfred Sant has called for an emphasis on public transport systems across the EU that should be on public, not private solutions.

Explaining his vote in favour of the report ‘Sustainable urban mobility’ at the European Parliament in Brussels, Sant said that over 80% of Europe’s populations live in urban centres.

“Europeans are plagued by traffic congestion, long commuting times, environmental pollution and inefficient public transport. Worthy efforts continue to overcome the growing problems. Many fail. Given the present context, where privatization, public-private partnerships and market-based solutions are considered essential elements in a ‘holistic’ solution, problems will surely multiply not decrease,” Sant said.

The MEP also hit out at private solutions for urban transport. “Modernising public transport has been confused with privatising, when the real need was to modernise the public management of transport systems.”

Sant said a major public investment should retain control and strategic direction, operating not for profit but to serve a public purpose.

“As a general rule, public transport systems running as if they were private entities cannot solve satisfactorily the large scale problems of urban mobility. At national level, free market ideological dogma obscures this reality. Perhaps it can be countered at a European level, but I doubt it,” Sant said.