Brussels,

Sustainable transport

MOBILITY & TRANSPORT

The EU's commitment to sustainable transport is multifaceted, focusing on reducing emissions, promoting cleaner transport modes, improving urban mobility, and supporting technological and policy innovations to transition towards a more environmentally friendly and efficient transport system. 

Key reasons and actions include:
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  1. Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Transport contributes to a quarter of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. The European Green Deal aims for a 90% reduction in these emissions by 2050.
  2. Promotion of Clean Vehicles and Alternative Fuels: To accommodate the expected increase in zero- and low-emission vehicles and alternative fuels, about 1 million public recharging and refuelling stations are planned by 2025. The EU is supporting and financing this infrastructure, especially in areas lacking such facilities.
  3. Shift to Sustainable Transport Modes: The EU is encouraging a move towards more sustainable modes like rail and inland waterways. This involves expanding and managing the capacity of these modes more effectively.
  4. Fostering Multimodal Transport: The Combined Transport Directive supports multimodal freight operations to enhance the use of sustainable transport modes. This involves combining different transport methods in a single journey.
  5. Improving Efficiency with Digital Technology: Automated mobility and smart traffic management systems are being developed to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. "Mobility as a Service" solutions and smart applications are also playing a crucial role.
  6. Aviation and Maritime Emissions: Initiatives like the Single European Sky aim to reduce aviation emissions by optimizing flight times. The Commission plans to extend emissions trading to maritime transport and reduce emissions trading allowances for airlines.
  7. Promoting the ‘Polluter-Pays’ Principle: The EU is working towards effective road pricing and ending subsidies for fossil fuels, ensuring that the environmental costs of transport are reflected in prices.
  8. Addressing Urban Pollution: Measures to improve air quality and reduce urban congestion include enhancing public transport and promoting active transportation like walking and cycling. The EU is also focusing on reducing pollution in ports, from airplanes, and airport operations.
  9. Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): This facility dedicates 60% of its budget to sustainability-linked infrastructure projects, aiming to establish a European network for alternative fuel charging infrastructure and an efficient railway network.
  10. ReFuelEU Aviation Initiative: Launched in July 2021, this initiative mandates airlines to use sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and requires fuel suppliers to include increasing shares of SAF in jet fuel from 2025 to 2050, ensuring a level playing field across the EU.
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​2023

2022

European Sustainable Shipping Forum

The European Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF) provides a platform for structural dialogue, exchange of technical knowledge, cooperation and coordination between the Commission, Member States’ authorities and maritime transport stakeholders on issues pertaining to the sustainability and the competitiveness of EU maritime transport.

The ESSF operates since 2013 and has become a effective tool to engage and exchange views on a wide range of environmental issues in maritime transport, such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The ESSF has been used to prepare the ground for numerous coordinated submissions to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It also has been at the origin of the concept of the Green Shipping Guarantee Programme. More recently, on an initiative of the ESSF, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), has developed and published LNG bunkering guidance for port authorities and administrations, which will support the use of LNG throughout Europe.

On 27 July 2018, a renewal of the ESSF’s mandate was adopted aiming to (a) further promote the environmentally sustainable initiatives such as alternative fuels (b) decarbonisation (c) increase the efficiency of maritime transport in Europe as part of the overall supply chain (d) maintain the competitiveness of EU shipping.
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A revised open call for applications for the selection of additional experts for the ESSF sub-groups has been launched. Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit their application no later than 30 of April 2021.

Internalisation of transport external costs

​The strategy for the internalization of external costs in transportation within the European Union focuses on integrating environmental impacts and accident costs into the decision-making process of transport users. This approach stems from a 2006 request by the European Parliament to the Commission for a comprehensive model to assess and internalize these costs across all transport modes.

Key steps in this strategy include:

  1. Estimation of External Costs: Developing methods to estimate external costs, which are typically not borne by those who create them, is crucial. The Commission's work in this area led to the creation of a Handbook on estimating external costs in the transport sector.
  2. Internet Consultation: A broad online consultation was conducted to gather feedback on the principle of internalization and various policy options. This consultation, concluded in December 2007, informed the Commission’s approach.
  3. Impact Assessment: The Commission services conducted an impact assessment on internalizing external costs, using the IMPACT study and other sources. This involved testing different options for internalization and analyzing their effects on the economy, environment, and society.
  4. Greening Transport Package: In July 2008, the Commission adopted a Communication that provides a general framework for the internalization of external costs in the transport sector. This is part of the "Greening transport package" which aims to integrate environmental considerations into transport policies.
  5. Eurovignette Directive: The strategy for internalizing external costs is linked to the Directive on the charging of Heavy Goods Vehicles ("Eurovignette" Directive), indicating a legislative approach to addressing these costs.

EU Legislation: Directive 1999/62/EC on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures
Studies: