Recent Euractiv articles underline that Europe cannot meet its climate targets without decisively decarbonising road transport, one of the EU’s largest sources of CO₂ emissions.
Several articles highlight that concession-based models remain a key tool to finance this transition. Evidence from the PwC-ASECAP study and national experiences in Greece and France shows that concessions can mobilise private capital, secure continuous reinvestment, and deliver high-quality, climate-resilient infrastructure while limiting pressure on public budgets through the user- and polluter-pays principles.
In contrast, the Spanish and Portuguese cases illustrate the risks of abandoning tolls or terminating contracts for political reasons. Spain’s toll-free approach has created structural funding gaps, while Portugal’s decision to abolish tolls mid-contract shifts costs to taxpayers, undermines network stability and weakens investor confidence.
Overall, the articles converge on a clear message: stable, well-structured concession frameworks are essential to sustain road infrastructure, support decarbonisation based on user/polluter pay principles supported by the European Commission.
All articles have been compiled in a report. Download the report
