PLANNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE EUROPE? - TU Berlin

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documentations. Moreover, the extremely vague and non-committal definition of
sustainable development provided in the original proposal for the Sixth EAP is somewhat
indicative of the overall de-evolution of the connotations of the term “sustainable
development”:
A prudent use of the world’s natural resources and the protection of the global
ecosystem are a condition for sustainable development, together with economic
prosperity and a balanced social development. Sustainable development is concerned
with our long-term welfare here in Europe and at the global level and with the
heritage we leave to our children and grandchildren.
(CEC 2001c:11, my emphasis)
Thus, certain ecological, economical and social aspects are now defined as a
condition, not a defining feature of sustainable development, which now appears as
connected to the two rather innocuous terms “welfare” and “heritage” with an important
focus on global reach.
5.3 EU Discourses on Sustainable Transport
Generally speaking, the use of the terms “sustainable transport” or “sustainable
mobility” has been quite inflationary in EU documents in recent years, with almost
every form and mode of transport from bicycling to driving to maritime shipping to
aviation suddenly being labeled “sustainable.” Typically this occurs by talking of
sustainable mobility rather than sustainable transport. Many scholars, and especially
environmental NGOs, have pointed out that by putting the emphasis on “sustainable
mobility” rather than on “sustainable transport,” the EU often ignores or neglects another
major issue in transport, namely accessibility. In emphasizing mobility one assumes the
need to travel as given, thereby implicitly establishing mobility as a goal in and of itself