News
17/01/2019

Romanian EU Council Presidency: what’s in for transport?

The article focuses on several key areas such as the Energy Union, Environment, and Industry. On transport, the highlighted topics are the revision of the Clean Vehicles Directive and ensuring financing for cross-border infrastructure in the next Connecting Europe Facility.

CO2 emission performance standards for trucks

For the first time, CO2 emission performance standards for trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles will be introduced in the EU. However, negotiations will be tense as there is clear divide between progressive countries that want to maximise the environmental benefits of more efficient vehicles and those seeking to provide the industry with sufficient margin to manage the structural transitions.

Revision fo Clean Vehicles Directive

In order to participate in global emissions reduction efforts, the Romanian Presidency will push for an agreement on the revision of the Clean Vehicles Directive, which defines what can be considered a clean vehicle and requires public authorities to procure a certain quota of them. This aims to create more market demand by requiring, for instance, that public bus fleets run on alternative fuels. As a country still developing its transport infrastructure, Romania will work towards ensuring sufficient EU funding for this purpose under the next long-term budget. This includes advancing negotiations on the new Connecting Europe Facility that finances cross-border infrastructure, as well as establishing funding for alternative fuels infrastructure, such as electric vehicle charging points, which is still lacking across Eastern Europe.

Inland water transport

The Romanian Presidency will seek to promote transport via inland waterways as an ecological form of transport, following up on the Council Conclusions prepared by the Austrian Presidency and implementing the Commission’s NAIADES II action plan.

Overall, the Romanian Presidency will try to promote policies to drive growth at EU level as well as increase the financial feasibility of implementing new sustainability measures in smaller economies within the EU.

Read the full article on Bellona’s website.