*Update 24.10.2024 We’re aware of OIB now accepting cross-border commuter passes reimbursement requests via myPMO, but Luxembourg-based colleagues are to use the same method as before.*
*Update 15.07.2024 Check out ‘A new tool for reimbursement’ in the Brussels Green Commuting Communication on MyIntracomm. It promises reimbursement of Brussels transport tickets without having to wait for them to expire. Have you managed to do this? Please let us know!*
Original article: In our ongoing commitment to support staff, Generation2004 contacted the services responsible to request improvements to Mobility.net (and the new system which is currently being developed to replace Mobility.net). Indeed, our Brussels-based members have been keeping us posted on problems encountered with the reimbursement of their commuting expenses and the potential need to ensure sufficient resources are available.
Only recently, some additional concerns have been brought to our attention regarding the discontinuation of the third-party payment option which allowed for the remote charging of annual abonnements onto transport cards. For this option, colleagues had 50% of the ticket cost deducted from their salary, avoiding the need to pay the entire ticket price upfront. This much-appreciated feature is essential for assisting with personal budgeting and for maintaining the financial ease of colleagues, especially contact agents and those lower down on the salary scales. Compromising that flexibility is also clearly in contradiction to promoting the use of public transport, as one of our members also pointed out:
‘After some back and forth with the Mobility team […] I was told that the reason why my application was blocked is that the Tiers payant for transport passes is being phased out and will stop completely as of this summer. This seems like a pretty major change, one not particularly conducive to encouraging environmentally friendly behaviour amongst EU staff in Brussels….’
We are curious to see how this fits in with the Greening of the Commission, particularly the section on Greener travel>staff commuting:
‘Staff commuting represented 8% of the Commission’s total emissions in 2022. The Commission intends to reduce GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions in this area by around 45% by 2030, compared to 2019. It will achieve this objective by:
- encouraging staff to use greener means of transport when commuting
- increasing remote working
- organising awareness campaigns and events about sustainable commuting initiatives (e.g., service bikes, eco-mobility hubs, charging stations to e-vehicles, public transport subscriptions).’[*]
Given the significant advantages of Third-party payment, Generation2004 strongly advocates for its retention and most importantly reintegration into the new system.
We have again contacted OIB in that respect.
As always, we would love to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us or leave a comment below.
If you appreciate our work, please consider becoming a member of Generation 2004.
[*] The Commission’s stated commitment to greening appears to be a little inconsistent in Luxembourg also: EV charging is currently unavailable there, but colleagues have had free access to the electric city bikes (‘Vel’OH!’) via the Office for Infrastructure and Logistics in Luxembourg (OIL) since 2021.
