Blog | Christian Calvillo | June 2026
Insights from the European Commission JRC Workshop
For many of us, getting around is something we rarely think twice about. But for others, limited access to transport can shape daily life in ways that are easy to overlook, and sometimes with serious consequences.
I recently had the chance to attend a workshop on transport poverty and accessibility, hosted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Seville. Many thanks to the JRC for the kind invitation, and for organising such a thoughtful and engaging event.
A long-recognised but underprioritised issue
One thing that really stood out to me is how transport poverty has, for quite a long time, been recognised but maybe not prioritised to the level required. In contrast, fuel poverty has understandably been a major focus of policy for decades. With transport, there has perhaps been a sense that keeping fuel prices affordable and/or improving public transport would largely solve the issue. But as the discussions at the workshop made clear, it is not that simple.
Part of the challenge is that we are still working towards clear and practical definitions of transport poverty. While some policy definitions are now emerging, with growing consensus on the dimensions involved (affordability, accessibility, availability and adequacy), they tend to be quite broad, which makes it harder to translate them into specific policy targets. As far as I am aware, many places are still away from establishing clear targets or fully developed specific transport poverty strategies in place.
That said, it was really encouraging to see how much progress has been made in recent years. There is a growing body of research across Europe and beyond, and some very interesting data and analytical approaches are becoming available. A good example is the EU Transport Poverty Hub (), which provides detailed spatial indicators on access to services and opportunities by different modes of transport, including walking, cycling, driving and public transport. Tools like this are helping us get a much clearer picture of where transport poverty exists and who is most affected.
Beyond measurement: What comes next?
At the same time, it feels like we are only just scratching the surface of what is possible with these kinds of data. We are getting better at understanding the current situation, but there are still some big questions ahead. For example, how will transport poverty change as we move towards low-carbon transport systems? And what are the longer-term consequences of being transport poor?
These questions are not straightforward. For some people, limited transport options might mean inconvenience, perhaps a more difficult trip to the shops. For others, it could mean missing essential services or opportunities, such as healthcare appointments, with much more serious implications. Capturing those differences is challenging and will require a mix of approaches, combining detailed data with insights from across disciplines.
Contributing to the Research Agenda
This is an area of research that we at the Centre for Energy Policy are keen to contribute to. For example, through our work within the Energy Demand Research Centre, we are exploring how the low-carbon transition may impact different groups, including those with protected characteristics.
There is still a lot we do not yet know, but it is genuinely encouraging to see growing interest from policymakers and researchers alike. There is a real sense that momentum is building, and that transport poverty is starting to get the attention it deserves.