The next legislative term is particularly crucial for the transport sector: it will decide the fundamental orientation of the European approach to the implementation of the Green Deal. Both achieving our climate targets and balancing those targets with continued economic growth depend on the outcome. Rail, road, air and maritime transport play an equally important role here, and it is clear we will only achieve our ambitious goals if we tackle the transport sector’s challenges with an open and innovative approach.
For the aviation sector, the hardest to decarbonise, much hope lies with sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The ReFuelEU Aviation initiative as a legislative basis introduces an increasing blending mandate for SAF. At the same time, a sufficient infrastructure must now be ramped up. This will only be practicable with joint collaboration between the aviation industry on the one hand, and the fuel supplier on the other, ensuring a rapid market uptake. Europe could play a leading role in SAF distribution globally if the right investments and research is undertaken.
The extension by 2027 of the European Union emissions trading system (ETS) on buildings and road transport will complement existing Green Deal policies. In the next mandate, we will evaluate the smooth functioning and phasing-in of ETS 2, as well as its effectiveness. The acceptance of this price-based measure will also depend on the sufficient availability of sustainable alternatives in the energy and transport sectors.
In road transport, alternative fuels also continue to offer an innovative opportunity for decarbonisation. Heavy duty transport, in particular, will increasingly face the need for a multifaceted approach in the coming years. Alternative fuels can serve as a transitional solution towards electrification and can close the gaps where the electric motor cannot in the coming years. Decarbonisation must work everywhere, whether in the north of Finland or in the Mediterranean region.
Decarbonisation must work everywhere, whether in the north of Finland or in the Mediterranean region
One thing is certain: if the end result is carbon-neutral transport, it doesn't matter how we get there. The best and most practicable innovation should prevail and the path should not be predetermined in advance for our highly diverse Europe.
While designated proposals have generally been submitted for the individual modes of, the overarching link for the end consumer is still missing. EU citizens are often faced with the question of whether to take the plane, train or car. A combination rarely makes sense, as the modes of transport are often incompatible, but a proposal for a genuine multimodal digital mobility service (MDMS) in the EU is still lacking. The European Commission must present a practical solution as quickly as possible so that we, as citizens of the EU, can combine and utilise the great advantages of various modes of transport in the future. With a simple and practicable solution, this will no longer be an either-or situation.
Transport remains the backbone of the EU‘s internal market and the new Commission must ensure that the implementation of the Green Deal can be practicably realised in the member states.