- The Municipality of Chersonissos has officially joined the European Rural Mobility Network (ERMN), expanding its international partnerships to promote sustainable, inclusive, and equitable transit solutions.
- The membership builds upon existing local transit milestones, including the free municipal bus service launched in June 2026 that links inland villages directly with the coastal zone for residents and visitors.
- Originally sparked by the SMARTA-NET EU project (2022–2024) and established as a Belgian non-profit in July 2025, the ERMN connects rural municipalities, researchers, and service providers across Europe to tackle rural transport challenges.
- Chersonissos Mayor Zacharias Doxastakis emphasized that the network provides critical know-how and a collective voice in European policymaking, helping balance development between inland and coastal regions.
As regional municipalities look toward long-term sustainability, the Municipality of Chersonissos has taken a strategic step onto the European stage by joining the European Rural Mobility Network (ERMN). The move reinforces local efforts to modernize transit, highlighted by the successful rollout of the municipality’s free local transit system in June 2026, which bridges rural inland communities and the bustling coastline.
Originally formalized as an independent non-profit in July 2025 following the SMARTA-NET initiative, the ERMN serves as a collaborative platform for European rural areas to overcome geographical isolation and transportation bottlenecks. Through workshops, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building tools, member municipalities gain practical insights while uniting to ensure national and European policymakers hear rural transit needs.
Reflecting on the integration, Mayor Zacharias Doxastakis noted that joining the network aligns directly with the administration’s vision for a modern, accessible municipality.
“Through our participation in the ERMN, we become part of a European family that claims, innovates, and speaks loudly in decision-making centers,” Doxastakis stated. “We are exchanging best practices, acquiring vital know-how, and designing the future of mobility in our inland and coastal zones under terms of equal accessibility, environmental care, and local development.”
