European Parliament — 2023-05-24
News from Brussels
An agreement on mandatory deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure for cars and trucks, and on cleaner maritime fuels was approved in the Transport and Tourism Committee on 2023 May 24.
Recharging stations
The rules on alternative fuels infrastructure agreed by Council and Parliament negotiators, led by EP rapporteur Ismail Ertug (S&D, DE), in 2023 March seeks to expand the deployment of recharging or alternative refuelling stations for cars, trucks or planes. It sets minimum mandatory national targets for the deployment of this infrastructure and asks EU countries to present their plans on how to achieve them.
During the negotiations, MEPs managed to secure that electric charging pools for cars with at least a 400 kW output will have to be deployed at least every 60 km along core TEN-T network by 2026, with the network’s power output increasing to 600 kW by 2028. Users of alternative fuel vehicles will have to be able to pay easily and conveniently at recharging points (with payment cards, contactless devices or, in certain cases, using a QR code), while the price of the “fuels” will have to be displayed per kWh, per minute/session and be reasonable, easily and clearly comparable, transparent and non-discriminatory, says the deal.
More details on the outcome of the negotiations between EP and Council is available here. The text of the agreement is available here.
Sustainable maritime fuels
New rules on sustainable maritime fuels agreed by Council and Parliament negotiators, led by EP rapporteur Jörgen Warborn (EPP, SE), set up a fuel standard for ships to steer the EU maritime sector towards the uptake of renewable and low-carbon fuels and decarbonisation.
During the talks, MEPs succeeded in ensuring that ships will have to gradually reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by cutting the amount of GHG in the energy they use (below 2020 level of 91.16 grams of CO2 per MJ) by 2% as of 2025, 6% as of 2030, 14,5% as of 2035, 31% as of 2040, 62% as of 2045 and 80% as of 2050.
According to the preliminary agreement, containerships and passenger ships will be obliged to use on-shore power supply for all electricity needs while moored at the quayside in major EU ports as of 2030. This should significantly reduce air pollution in ports.
More details on the outcome of the negotiations between EP and Council is available here. The text of the agreement is available here.
Next steps
The deal on alternative fuels infrastructure rules was approved by Transport and Tourism Committee by 33 votes to one and seven abstentions, while the deal on sustainable maritime fuels was backed by 40 votes in favour and two abstentions. It now needs to be approved by the full House, possibly during the July plenary session in Strasbourg.