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Transport Policy Outlook 28 November 2022

Transport Policy Outlook 28 November 2022

EU Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation (AZEA) holds first meeting

The Commission led alliance for zero emission aviation (AZEA) had its first meeting this month with an impressive level of participation covering almost 100 organisations.

  • The objective of the Alliance is to prepare the market for the entry into service of zero-emission aircraft.
  • The novel propulsion technologies used by such aircraft will have a profound impact not only on aircraft design, but also on the fuels and airport infrastructures they require and on the way they are operated. Airline business models may also be affected.
  • The Alliance will comprehensively identify and prioritise the challenges posed by zero-emission aircraft and propose practical solutions to overcome these.

Over the next two decades, more than 44,000 new aircraft are expected to be placed on the market. The potential market volume for zero emission aircraft has been estimated at 26,000 by 2050, with a total value of €5 trillion.

The Alliance will eventually deliver on the commitment to align the sector with the EU’s climate ambition, goals and other related policies. The international dimension of the sector is also a major element, as tackling climate change is a global effort.

At the launch event Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said:

“Europe’s aeronautics industry is the most innovative in the world. And its enthusiasm — from large manufacturers to equipment suppliers and small companies and start-ups — to lead the way to hydrogen and electric propulsion aircraft is really encouraging. But the entire aviation ecosystem, including fuel suppliers, airport operators and regulators, also needs to get ready. The Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation will help coordinate efforts by companies and organisations to maintain a competitive and sustainable aviation sector.”

Private and public organisations interested in participating are invited to join the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation through the online form.

Read more here.

Commission plans to avoid East West split on EV charging infrastructure

Noting the position of the European Parliament that Member States should build EV charging points at least every 60km on main motorways, concerns have been voiced that there may be an imbalance in the infrastructure investment required which would favour western Member States.

Referring to a report from the European Court of Auditors, Euractiv reports that almost 70% of charging points for electric vehicles are currently centred in the Netherlands, Germany and France.

The Commission responded that funding programmes are being used to bolster charging infrastructure including Horizon Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility, and EU Cohesion Funds.

To meet the EU’s 2030 climate goals, 6.8 million public charging points will be required across the EU. Currently there are 377,000.

Read more at:

https://www.euractiv.com/section/electric-cars/news/commission-rejects-concerns-of-two-speed-europe-for-ev-charging-infrastructure/ 

Transport Committee meeting November 29

The European Parliament Transport and Tourism Committee will meet on Tuesday the 29th with a very full agenda. Highlights include:

  • Public hearing on safe and efficient development of a drone ecosystem in the EU.
  • Structural Dialogue with Commissioner Vălean — the Commission Work Programme 2023 and other outstanding transport-related files.
  • Exchange of views with Ms Maja Markovčić Kostelac, the Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).
  • Debate on an own-initiative report on The New EU Urban Mobility Framework.

The hearing will be live-streamed here.

 

EU Drone Days November 29–30

A major event taking place this week in Brussels is the EU Drone Days which will include the launch by the European Commission of the Drones Strategy 2.0.

This new strategy will lay out ambitions for the use of Drones and Advanced Air Mobility in Europe and the steps required to realise those objectives.

Download the full agenda here.

The event will be live-streamed here.

For more information on these developments or any other transport and mobility policy topic please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Author

Chris Mehigan

I am the Partner of Penta’s Transport and Mobility practice and have 15 years’ experience working in public affairs. I focus primarily on transport policy at the EU level. I specialise in dealing with heavily regulated sectors and helping our clients to develop and maintain networks with senior figures in the European Institutions. I am also a Certified Data Privacy Practitioner and provide advice on GDPR concerns.
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