On 9 November 2021, the Commission launched a public consultation in order to collect the views of stakeholders on the establishment of a new industrial alliance focused on improving the supply and accessibility 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 aimed at making European climate, energy, spatial planning, transport and taxation policies suitable for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, thus achieving the emissions targets of the European Green Deal. In particular, aviation and maritime fuels are sources of significant pollution and also require specific actions to complement emissions trading, which is necessary for aviation and maritime transport to have easier access to fuels renewable and low-carbon. Therefore, the consultation will focus on two specific proposals.

On the one hand, the “RefuelingEU Aviationaiming to provide the European aviation market with strong rules to ensure that progressively increasing shares of sustainable aviation fuels can be introduced at EU 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 decarbonized fuels in the energy mix of international maritime transport without creating obstacles to the single market.

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