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Key Points
1. Transport & sustainability - developments on the legislations relevant to achieving the EU's climate targets
Alternative fuels infrastructure Regulation (AFIR)
On the 2 June, the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted its position on the AFIR regulation (view here). The Parliament is yet to form its position on the proposal. The TRAN committee’s vote is scheduled for early October, right before the plenary on 17 October where the European Parliament is expected to adopt its position. A successful vote will enable to launch the interinstitutional talks in November.
RefuelEU Aviation
As both the European Parliament (view) and the Council (view) have shared their final views on this file, the first session of the interinstitutional negotiations on this file is taking place on 8 September.
EU Emissions Trading System as regards aviation & CORSIA
The first interinstitutional negotiation on ETS for aviation and CORSIA are starting on 6 September.
CO2 emission standards for cars and vans
The first interinstitutional negotiation on this file started on 5 September.
CountEmissionsEU
On 25 July, the Commission launched a public consultation on an initiative that sets out a common framework to calculate and report transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. Such initiative, the so-called CountEmissionsEU, will allow users to pick the most sustainable transport option as well as service providers to monitor and reduce their emissions and improve the efficiency of their transport services.
2. Other updates
Carbon pricing – Why has it hit record high numbers?
The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) price hit a new record high in late August at just above €99. This increase is likely caused by the heatwave and drought crimping hydropower and nuclear power which led to more gas and coal being burned than expected.
But will it be capped?
Poland requested a cap to be put on the ETS. Brussels has been unyielding in rejecting such demands. Last Tuesday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rebuffed Poland once again, saying the ETS was needed to cut emissions and that the carbon price contributed only about 6 percent to the price of electricity.
However, on the night towards 5 September, German government decided to suspend the price increase of its domestic carbon price for one year as part of a €65 billion relief package meant to alleviate the strain of record-breaking energy prices. View more here.
LEAK: The EU’s emergency measures to tackle rising electricity prices
The European Commission is considering emergency measures, including price caps and incentives to reduce electricity consumption, to tackle high energy bills this winter, according to a leaked proposal.
Not all the options explored in the paper are recommended. For instance, ideas like suspending wholesale markets or introducing a wholesale price cap could jeopardise the EU's security of supply, it warns. View more here.
Drop the private plane for a public train
A Brussels-based lobby group representing private and business jets has hit out at plans by France’s transport minister to clamp down on private jets following a public backlash against them. Minister Clément Beaune said in late August that he intended to discuss potential regulation with his EU colleagues at the next informal transport meeting in October. View more here.
Winter flight cancellations lie ahead
Summer may be over, but the staffing issues that have affected carriers clearly still bedevil them, with airlines now beginning to cancel flights on their fall and winter schedules. British Airways recently announced it would be cutting 10,000 short-haul flights from Heathrow Airport between October and March. View more here.
Let’s make travel seamless
The EU has announced it will soon lance a new legislative process entitled “Travel – digitalising travel documents to make travelling easier”. According to the Commission, issuing digital travel documents can be easier than issuing physical documents, so this proposal can have an impact on maximising travel time in the future.
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