On 9 November 2021, the Commission launched a public consultation in order to gather the stakeholders’ views on the establishment of a new industrial alliance focused on boosting the supply and affordability of renewable and low-carbon gaseous and liquid fuels.

The initiative is part of the so-called “Fit-for-55 package” adopted on 14 July 2021, a set of proposals to make Europe’s climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, thereby achieving emissions thereby achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal. More particularly, aviation and maritime fuels cause significant pollution and also require dedicated action to complement emissions trading, thereby being necessary for air and waterborne transports to have easier access to renewable and low-carbon ones. Therefore, the consultation will focus on two specific proposals.

On the one hand, the “RefuelEU Aviation”, aiming to gear the European aviation market with robust rules to ensure that gradually increasing shares of sustainable aviation fuels can be introduced in the Union’s airports without detrimental effects on the competitiveness of the internal market. On the other hand, the “FuelEU Maritime”, which proposes a common European regulatory framework to increase the share of renewable and low-carbon fuels in the fuel mix of international maritime transport without creating barriers to the single market.

The consultation will be open until 30 November 2021; thereafter, the Commission will use the survey’s results to prepare the launch of the alliance and adjust it to the market’s needs.

Marco Stillo