Association Européenne des Voies Vertes ·European Greenways Association Asociación Europea De Vías Verdes -Aisbl
Budget
€63,051
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
3
0.95 FTE
EU Grants
€30,400
Mission & Goals
The objective of the EGWA is to encourage the creation and promotion of greenways in Europe. Greenways are communication routes exclusively reserved for non-motorized use that share common characteristics such as safety, due to their separation from roads, and accessibility, with low gradient slopes that make for easy travelling. Most are based on disused railways and canal towpaths and so provide easy access to places of great beauty, often in mountainous areas, through tunnels and over viaducts (see full details in the Lille Declaration) EGWA promotes the extension of safe & accessible non-motorised infrastructures for active mobility: cycling, walking, and wheeling, for every day use, healthy leisure, and sustainable tourism. EGWA encourages specially the reconversion of disused railway lines as greenways, and the use of canal towpath; both present added environmental & heritage value. Created in 1998 in Namur, EGWA counts with more than 50 members in 16 countries.
EU Legislative Interests
- Brussels Declaration on the mobility of tomorrow 4/April/2024. Transport ministers calls on the EU Union to take the following steps during the next legislature: • Make rail transport the backbone of European mobility • Unlock the full potential of active mobility and cycling at European and national level https://belgian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/news/the-belgian-presidency-outlines-the-future-of-european-mobility-in-a-brussels-declaration/ Support for the declaration; and in particular to consider prominently the development and promotion of greenways for active mobility in cities, peri-urban and rural areas. In particular through the transformation of former railway lines into greenways as independent, safe, user friendly and accessible cycle pedestrian routes for all kinds of users. Also intermodality with railways, and to facilitate the transport of bicycles by train, in an easy way in Europe. - European Parliament resolution of 16 February 2023 on developing an EU cycling strategy (2022/2909(RSP) => Support of the resolution and request to integrate greenways as cycling infrastructure into the European cycling strategy. - European Parliament resolution of 25 March 2021 on establishing an EU strategy for sustainable tourism (2020/2038(INI), to promote a sustainable tourism strategy and agenda. => Appreciation of the specific mention to the reconversion of disused railway lines, and request to revise the text of article #44, and correct the translations as follow: (…) calls on the Commission to encourage the conversion of disused railway lines, especially by supporting greenways projects on former railway lines. - Participation in the co-implementation of Transition Pathway for Tourism with concrete pledges for action. Participation in the Co-creation of the Transition Pathway for tourism, launched by the EC; participation as expert in the Greener Holidays Workshops. - Contribution to the Public consultation on the evaluation of the 2011 White Paper ‘Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system’ and on the announced future European Strategy for a Sustainable and Smart Mobility (23/09/2020). => Make cycling available to all citizens; Promotion of greenways as safe infrastructures for active and sustainable mobility for conmuters, tourism & local population.
Communication Activities
- European Greenways Award. Established in 2003, the objective of the biennial European Greenways Award is to promote examples of best practices and to support their replication for other greenways all over Europe. - European Projects. to promote greenways and encourage the improvement of the offer of services, facilities, and information to visitors; active mobility and healthy leisure. - Conferences - Workshops and technical events. Different range of events addressing different topics related to tourism, mobility, heritage, outdoor sports, environment, health (...). - Publication of guides. Practical recommendations based on best practice to guide greenway managers across Europe; and proposals for trips and tourism products offering greenways. - Organisation of field visits to learn and share best practices greenways related. - Campaing for the co-implementation of the Transition Pathway for Tourism. - European Mobility Week promotion. - Disemination trough Newsletter, Social Network, web site. - All activities are carried out with the collaboration of EGWA members and many different partners.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
European Tourism Manifesto alliance. https://tourismmanifesto.eu/ Alliance of over 70 European public and private organisations, covering the whole tourism value chain and beyond. Together ETM calls on the European Union for action on key policy priorities for the sector. EGWA contribution to the CALL FOR ACTION: ACCELERATE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY BY INVESTING IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, with concrete proposals regarding greenways, included in The European Tourism Manifesto alliance’s contribution to the drafting of national recovery & resilience plans with reforms and investment proposals related to Travel and Tourism. Final paper replacing version published on 26 November 2020 Cooperation with the European Cyclist Federation; https://ecf.com/, and EuroVelo in particular https://pro.eurovelo.com/organisation/about Taking part in the European Countryside Movement: https://www.ruraleurope.org/en/m-e-r-2/qui-sommes-nous-2/
Organisation Members
https://www.aevv-egwa.org/egwa/members-2/
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.