Urban Mobility Innovation Beyond the EU: Practical Lessons from Candidate and Partner Countries

Cities in EU candidate and partner countries are increasingly delivering innovative urban mobility solutions despite facing significant institutional, financial and infrastructure challenges. This session brings together representatives from local government, academia, regional cooperation organisations and EU-funded initiatives to explore the mobility challenges they face, the priorities for innovative solutions and how these are being translated into practical action in diverse local contexts. 

Drawing on concrete examples from Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, speakers will discuss how cities are exploring, adapting and implementing sustainable urban mobility measures, including the development of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), road safety governance, clean fleet modernisation, public transport reform and low-emission transport initiatives, including active travel. The discussion will also explore how evidence-based planning, data and research can support decision-making, alongside efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, prioritise investments, engage communities and improve governance while working under resource constraints and, in some cases, responding to crisis situations that demand resilient mobility solutions. 

The session will highlight the role of cooperation, knowledge exchange and EU-supported initiatives in accelerating implementation and supporting long-term urban mobility transformation. Rather than focusing on policy alone, it will showcase real implementation challenges, lessons learned and practical approaches that can be transferred between cities. Participants will gain insights into how innovation can thrive under constrained conditions, how partnerships, research, and capacity building support delivery, and how candidate and partner countries are contributing valuable experiences to Europe's transition towards safer, more accessible, low-emission and sustainable urban mobility.