Brussels, Belgium (AHN) – The European Union released Monday a new transport plan for the 27-member bloc that would improve mobility through road, rail, air and water networks, reduce dependence on imported oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan, which would encourage major infrastructure investment, features the banning of petrol powered cars from all EU cities by 2050.

To make up for the vehicle prohibition, half of the current travelers who make intercity trips more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) would be shifted to rail or water transport systems.

Airlines would be mandated to hike their use of low-carbon fuels up to 40 percent, while ships would have to reduce by a similar 40 percent their carbon emissions.

With these measures and new fuel taxes, EU residents would be forced to stop using their cars and instead try other alternative means of moving around, said EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas. The aim of the plan is to cut EU’s total GHG by 60 percent from all types of transportation in the next 40 years.

However, the Association of British Drivers criticized the proposed ban on automobiles because it would create an economic disaster and limit personal mobility. Kallas debunked the ABD’s fear since road, rail, air and water transportation facilities would be linked seamlessly throughout the bloc.

EU plans to interconnect the continent’s passenger and freight transport information, management and payment systems by 2020. By 2050, the union plans to have all major airport hubs to have high-speed connections to rail networks, which in turn would also be linked to all core seaports and inland waterways.

The ambitious bloc-wide transport plan seeks to reduce by 50 percent road deaths throughout EU by 2020 and move close to zero casualties by 2050.

EU’s transport industry provides jobs to 10 million residents and comprises 5 percent of the bloc’s gross domestic product. The average EU household spends 13 percent of their income on transport.

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