The Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP) hosted the general meeting of the European Metropolitan Transport Authorities (EMTA), which took place between 9 and 11 October 2024.

The EMTA is a network that includes some of Europe's main public transport authorities, with the aim of promoting the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices in the planning, integration and financing of public transport in large European cities and metropolitan areas.

Since joining the EMTA in 2019, the AMP has been active in exchanging best practices, and hosting this general meeting was an important milestone. The event brought together the CEOs of transport authorities to debate critical urban mobility issues, sharing strategies and solutions that benefit millions of European citizens. The meeting included panels on relevant topics such as efficiency in public transport contracts, the launch of the EMTA Barometer 2024 and the decarbonisation of bus services.

The opening session included welcoming remarks from the president of EMTA, Katalin Walter, followed by a presentation on the role of the AMP by the AMP’s CEO, Ariana Pinho, and by the Head of the Mobility Planning and Management Division (DPGM), Jorge Barbeiro. The event was focused on topics such as boosting the urban mobility agenda, debated by Françoise Guaspare (Ile-de-France), and obtaining value through public transport contracts, in a round table that included experts from cities such as Stockholm, Helsinki and Krakow.

On the second day, the event featured a dialogue session with the European Commission, represented by Torsten Klimke, Head of DG MOVE's Innovation and Research Unit, who addressed the Commission's priorities for the new legislature and possible areas of cooperation with the EMTA. Laurent Probst (IDFM, Paris), Faustino Gomes (TML, Lisbon) and other experts then took part in a round table discussion on improving quality and customer satisfaction through public procurement, emphasising the importance of effective incentives and penalties for the sector.

Another highlight of the meeting was the discussion on new contracts that decarbonise bus services, with representatives from London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Oslo. This panel addressed the strategies adopted to acquire zero-emission fleets and the financial challenges involved in implementing new technologies in public transport.

Participants also had the opportunity to learn more about Porto's transport network through a technical visit to the Trindade Metro Station and the Campanhã Intermodal Terminal.