POLIS, ALICE, and EPA co-create the future of urban logistics
On 17 September 2025, POLIS, ALICE, and the European Parking Association (EPA) released a Joint Statement at the 21st EPA Conference in Brussels.
This declaration marks an important milestone in the three organisations' collaboration, which has been ongoing for several years to address the challenges and opportunities of urban freight, curbside management, and sustainable transportation.
The ceremony took place after the session 2.1 'Reshaping Urban Space Part 2 - Parking Policy & Management in the Context of Urban Logistics and SULPs' and featured as panellists Karen Vancluysen, POLIS Secretary-General, Fernando Liesa, ALICE Secretary-General, Laurence A. Bannerman, EPA President Emeritus & AIPARK Secretary General. The session was moderated by Paola Cossu (FIT Consulting).
Building on a shared journey
The partnership between POLIS, ALICE, and EPA has evolved through joint workshops, surveys and research initiatives, particularly within the Horizon Europe Programme framework. Each organisation brings complementary expertise:
- POLIS connects European cities and regions, ensuring that local policies and mobility needs are at the heart of the debate.
- EPA contributes in-depth knowledge of parking and curbside operations, which is essential for freight access and urban space management.
- ALICE advances logistics and supply chain innovation, with a strong focus on efficiency, digitalisation and decarbonisation.
This collaboration provides a Europe-wide platform for dialogue between public authorities, parking managers, logistics operators and innovators.

Key messages of the Joint Statement
The Joint Statement emphasises several priorities for the future of urban logistics and space management, summarised below:
- Sustained collaboration: A strategic platform has been established to address urban challenges in a joint and structured manner.
- Cross-sector engagement: Cities, logistics providers and parking managers are encouraged to share experiences and co-design solutions.
- Integration of digital and physical systems: Urban Data Spaces and the Physical Internet have been identified as key enablers to ensure seamless access to infrastructure and services, reduce barriers, and create new opportunities.
- Linking sustainability and competitiveness: Aligning the Green Deal with digitalisation can make urban logistics a driver of European innovation and resilience.
- Prioritise the adoption of Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans (SULPs) as a key instrument to balance sustainability goals with economic competitiveness.
Looking ahead
The joint session at the EPA Conference 2025 reflects past collaboration and marks a step towards future policy recommendations to be developed within the DISCO project framework and published in 2026. The recommendations are expected to guide integrated approaches to urban space and logistics management.
Read the full Joint Statement HERE.