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Transport Policy Outlook: 3 October 2022

Transport Policy Outlook: 3 October 2022

European Parliament extraordinary meeting Monday October 3rd

The European Parliament Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday, 3 October 2022.

A vote on the Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU

The TRAN Committee will vote on the amendments to the proposal for a Regulation on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, which is part of the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package contributing to the 55% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030 (compared with 1990 levels).

The objective of the proposed Regulation is to ensure the availability and usability of a dense, widespread network of alternative fuels infrastructure throughout the EU, including the roll-out of electric charging infrastructure for vehicles.

Adoption of draft report on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport and amending Directive 2009/16/EC

The TRAN Committee will also vote on the proposal for a new Regulation on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport (Fuel EU Maritime). The proposal also forms part of the Fit for 55 package and complements the proposal on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.

It aims to promote the sustainable maritime fuels by introducing requirements for ships arriving to, or departing from EU ports. Most importantly, ship owners will have to gradually reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of their fuels and will be obliged to use onshore power supply while staying in ports in order to reduce air pollution.

Adoption of draft report on the Action plan to boost long distance and cross border passenger rail.

The TRAN Committee will also vote on the adoption of a report on the Action plan to boost long distance and cross border passenger rail. The plan is part of a package of measures for efficient and green mobility, and will help the EU meet its strategic milestones of doubling high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and tripling it by 2050.

To encourage more people to consider the train for trips abroad, the Action Plan sets out concrete actions to remove barriers to cross-border and long-distance travel, and make rail travel more attractive for passengers. The actions include:

  • a multimodal legislative proposal in 2022 to boost user-friendly multimodal ticketing;
  • allowing passengers to find the best tickets at the most attractive price and better supporting passengers faced with disruption, and a commitment to investigating an EU-wide VAT exemption for train tickets;
  • the repeal of redundant national technical and operational rules;
  • an announcement of proposals for 2022 on timetabling and capacity management, which will boost quicker and more frequent cross-border rail services;
  • guidelines for track access pricing in 2023 that will ease rail operators’ access to infrastructure, increasing competition and allowing for more attractive ticket prices for passengers.

View more at www.europarl.europa.eu

Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation (AZEA) announces founding members

The European Commission have announced the list of initial members participating in the Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation (AZEA). The list includes 74 entities from across the aeronautical industry, including companies, airlines, aircraft lessors, airports, energy providers, business associations and civil society organisations.

AZEA was launched by Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, on the 24th of June 2022. AZEA’s ambition is to address in particular the regulatory and financial challenges involved so as to pave the way for the next generation of sustainable aircraft to come to market as commercially viable products. AZEA is to address aspects such as the fuel and infrastructure requirements of hydrogen and electric aircraft at airports, the sourcing of renewable fuels and electricity, standardisation and certification, practices for operators (airlines) and air traffic management.

The first general assembly is set to take place on the 14th of November — further details will be available on the AZEA website.

Membership continue to be open for any interested stakeholder.

ACI Europe have announced they have joined AZEA

A dedicated ACI EUROPE Task Force — comprising AENA, Aeroporti di Roma, Brussels Airport, daa (Dublin Airports Authority), Geneva Airport, Groupe ADP, Munich Airport, Royal Schiphol Group, SEA Milan Airports and Swedavia — will drive the airport industry contribution to the Alliance under the supervision of the association’s Environmental Strategy Committee.

Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI EUROPE, said:

We believe that there is a strong business case behind developing environmentally sustainable aircraft. Industry preparedness, and in particular infrastructure readiness, will be crucial in securing its market viability and success.

Airport infrastructure projects are developed to last decades, so it is of fundamental importance that the development of hydrogen and electric powered aircraft technologies goes hand-in-hand with the adaptation and development of the necessary airport infrastructure.

We will be there to secure that crucial part of the process

Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation: Actors from across the aeronautics industry sign up and commit…
Today, the European Commission has released the list of initial members participating in the Alliance for Zero-Emission…

Read more at defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu

European Commission publishes guide for urban planners and transport practitioners

The European Commission have published a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) Guide on Planning for Attractive Public Transport. It provides guidance on public transport in the mobility planning and implementation process, in order to achieve more attractive public transport.

The report draws findings from the impact of the pandemic which saw public transport use fall, even in the aftermath of the health crisis many factors continue to impact on public transport use — people working from home, more local travel behaviour and health measures applying to transport modes which discourage use. A key challenge will be to regain trust in public transport and re-establish its market share, by inducing private car users to return to public transport and by attracting new users.

Cities will need to become more adaptable and resilient to handling disruptions, uncertainties and their impacts. Not only the pandemic, but also the climate and the energy crises represent an opportunity to re-imagine mobility within cities, putting citizens at the centre. Cities can only become climate-neutral and more energy- efficient if planning and design give a high priority to public transport as well as active mobility, such as walking and cycling.

Read more at www.eltis.org

EU launches Call for Evidence on Critical Raw Materials Act

Announced by President Von der Leyen at the State of the Union debate in Sepetember, the Critical Raw Materials Act is an important initiative to bring greater security to European Industry, such as the transport sector, that will be reliant on access to these Raw Materials. The steps of diversifying supply, strengthening the circularity and supporting research and innovation is critical to achieve the green and digital transitions.

This initiative will aim to reinforce EU monitoring capacities and strengthen both the EU value chain — through the identification of mineral resources and raw materials projects in the EU’s strategic interest, with strong environmental protection — and EU external policies on CRMs.

The Commission have launched a Call for Evidence and is open for feedback until midnight (Brussels time) on the 25th of November 2022.
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Further deatils at ec.europa.eu

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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