Sustainable Urban Mobility and TEN-T Governance: The Strategic Role of Foggia Municipality in Supporting Western Balkans EU Integration.

This contribution explores the role of urban policies and sustainable mobility in strengthening the European integration process of the Western Balkan countries. Drawing on the institutional experience of the Municipality of Foggia, the paper examines how an integrated vision of territorial planning, in line with Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), can foster socioeconomic development, territorial accessibility, and macro-regional cooperation in the Adriatic area. The case study of Foggia, a strategic urban node located at the intersection of two multimodal corridors of the TEN-T network, highlights the potential of a systemic approach that integrates sustainable urban mobility planning (SUMP/PUMS), transport infrastructure, intermodal logistics, and digital innovation. In particular, the development of a multimodal hub based on the new high-speed rail station and the existing ones, the Gino Lisa Airport, the Port of Manfredonia, and the integrated railway logistics platform at Incoronata represents a relevant example of integration between European transport networks, local productive systems, and territorial development strategies. This work also discusses the role of smart city policies and the digitalization of services, with particular attention to intelligent mobility platforms and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) solutions aimed at improving public transport efficiency and urban quality of life. Overall, these strategic directions outline a model of territorial governance capable of combining environmental sustainability, economic competitiveness, and urban attractiveness, while offering replicable insights for Western Balkan cities engaged in the European Union accession process. The paper aims to contribute to the scientific and institutional debate on mobility policies and European integration.