On 15 May 2025, the Capitals Working Group held its first meeting of political representatives in Rome to discuss the unique challenges and strategic roles of capital cities and regions in the European sustainable urban mobility landscape.

The meeting, hosted by deputy mayor Eugenio Patanè from the capital city of Rome, brought together politicians and experts from European capital cities and regions of the POLIS membership. The dialogue revolved around the urgent need for policy recognition, tailored funding mechanisms, and institutional support that reflect the unique position and related transport challenges of capital cities and regions within national and EU frameworks.

Strategic importance in achieving EU goals

Opening the meeting, Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General, and Ivo Cré, Director of Policy & Projects from POLIS, presented POLIS’ Capitals Policy Brief, which aims to outline the key challenges that capitals face and link them to main EU policy files, stressing that the EU will not be able to reach its sustainability targets without the leadership and participation of capital cities and regions.

Key messages in the brief include:

• Capitals are not only urban nodes but also critical national and international gateways, which absorb extensive commuter flows and bear the resulting externalities, such as congestion and air pollution. Consequently, there is a need for adapted digital and physical infrastructure to manage the intense traffic flows and service demands unique to capitals;
• The current EU requirement for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) by 2027 must be accompanied by a streamlined process and dedicated support for capital cities and regions;
• Capitals have a unique potential for passenger awareness and information that is essential to the sustainable mobility transformation: as such, they can serve as living laboratories and accelerators for policy innovation, and their success can be scaled to other cities and regions across Europe;
• Given their ambitious climate and air quality targets, capitals require dedicated support to meet increasingly stringent EU standards;
• The EU Cycling Declaration should not solely be a declaration, but must be met with concrete action;
• Mobility will only be sustainable if also inclusive, and instruments like the Social Climate Fund must be leveraged to ensure this.

Overall, the main purpose of the brief is to call on the European Commission for support in operationalising these messages and ensuring the proposed mechanisms effectively reach capital cities and regions.

The distinctive role and challenges of capital cities and regions

Following the presentation of the policy brief, participants discussed the key messages and shared the unique challenges they face as capitals. Indeed, capital cities and regions face challenges that are far more complex than those of other urban areas, and many felt that the tools and frameworks currently provided to them are inadequate to address these complexities. Moreover, the levels of transport funding provided to cities and regions also reflect the broader issue of regulatory and financial systems often failing to account for the disproportionate demand placed on capitals.

Participants highlighted that capitals are not only administrative centres but also absorb massive daily inflows of commuters, tourists, and economic activity from their wider functional urban areas. These dynamics place intense pressure on infrastructure, services, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, capitals frequently shoulder the burden of national and international visibility, security events, and diplomatic functions, all of which add layers of operational complexity.

Perception and institutional disparities

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the widespread public and political perception that capital cities are already sufficiently resourced, and therefore not in need of further investment. This perception often fails to account for the reality that many capital cities primarily serve large numbers of commuters who do not reside there, impacting how mobility infrastructure and public space are planned and prioritised.

There was broad consensus that despite appearing well-equipped, capitals face substantial costs in maintaining and upgrading complex transport systems that are critical not only for local residents but also for national and even international functioning. This disconnect often results in national funding models that under-allocate resources to capitals, reinforcing institutional disparities and overlooking the broader benefits such investments bring to the entire country.

Participants also noted that efforts to invest in sustainable mobility, achieve air quality standards, and modernise transport infrastructure are frequently met with limited national support, even when these improvements serve a much wider functional urban area, including commuters, tourists, and regional economic activity. There was concern that funding continues to favour car-centric infrastructure despite long-term environmental and social costs.

Funding challenges for capitals

Funding constraints emerged as a significant barrier to progress. Despite possessing the technical expertise to deliver ambitious projects, many capital cities face substantial limitations due to underfunding. Budget pressures, compounded by macroeconomic factors such as exchange rate volatility, were cited as exacerbating these difficulties.

Several cities highlighted their efforts to act as innovation testbeds for sustainable mobility at both national and European levels. However, these ambitions are often undermined by insufficient financial support from national authorities. Participants stressed the need for direct access to EU funding, which has proven essential for implementing transformative initiatives and addressing gaps left by national systems.

Overall, the discussion underscored the critical need for institutional recognition of the unique burdens and contributions of capital cities, and for funding models that reflect the scale and scope of their responsibilities.

Conclusion and next steps

Overall, the meeting highlighted a powerful message: capital cities and regions are not only managing transport, they are actively shaping Europe’s future. While the challenges they face are substantial, capitals also hold unique positions, responsibilities, and opportunities, placing them at the forefront of Europe’s transition to a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient mobility. To fully realise this potential, capital cities and regions must be meaningfully considered and included in decision-making processes.

Together, POLIS and its members will work hard to strengthen the collective voice of capitals at the EU level, highlighting their unique needs and challenges. POLIS and the Capitals Working Group will actively engage in upcoming opportunities to influence EU policy, including the Urban Agenda, the consultation on the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and core urban nodes.