The European Parliament approves new rules on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructures

16 April 2014

On 15 April, the European Parliament gave its final approval to new rules to ensure the build-up of infrastructure for alternative fuels across Europe and the development of common technological specifications, including shore-side electricity facilities and LNG refuelling points.

The Parliament adopted the compromise text agreed with the Council of Member States with a clear majority of 622 votes in favour and 29 against.

The aim of the Directive aims at putting put an end to the present vicious circle, where the penetration of vehicles and vessels running on alternative fuels is too low due to the lack of a sufficient fuel supply infrastructure, and vice-versa. Ultimately, the Directive will contribute to the reduction of the Union's oil dependence, and to the target of a 60% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 2050.

The agreement reached details the national targets for the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure that must be set by Member states. Shore-side electricity supply is to be installed as a priority in ports of the TEN-T Core Network, and in other maritime and inland ports, by the end of 2025, unless there is no demand and the costs are disproportionate to the benefits, including environmental benefits.

As regards Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Member States shall ensure, through their national policy frameworks, that an appropriate number of refuelling points for LNG are put in place at maritime ports to enable LNG inland waterway vessels or sea-going ships to circulate throughout the TEN-T Core Network by 31 December 2025 at the latest. Member States shall co-operate with neighbouring Member States where necessary to ensure adequate coverage of the network.

Publication of the Directive after legal-linguistic screening will supposedly take place in the second half of 2014. Following the vote of the European Parliament, the new rules should be formally adopted by Council later this year.


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