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On 16 September, transport ministers from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, and Sweden, together with the Commissioner for Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas, signed a declaration on the Clean Transport Corridor Initiative.

This declaration aims to accelerate the deployment of recharging and refuelling infrastructure for zero-emission trucks, focusing on high-performance charging stations along the TEN-T network. Aligned with the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, the initiative seeks to establish a seamless, reliable, and interoperable network of charging and refuelling points for electric and hydrogen-powered trucks by 2027, with the Scandinavian-Mediterranean and North-Sea Baltic Corridors as the first test cases.

The Clean Transport Corridor Initiative highlights the importance of coordinated action among signatory countries, industry stakeholders, and the Commission to tackle challenges such as grid capacity constraints, permitting delays, and investment gaps. It advocates for harmonised technical standards, cross-border collaboration, and targeted financial incentives to develop a network capable of supporting long-haul zero-emission freight operations. The signatories also stressed the role of public-private partnerships in sharing costs and risks during the early phases of infrastructure development.

While the initiative reinforces political commitment to meeting AFIR’s binding targets, it acknowledges that rapid implementation will depend on overcoming regulatory obstacles and securing adequate funding. The signatories pledged to monitor progress closely and explore further measures to ensure infrastructure development aligns with the growing adoption of zero-emission trucks.

Source: European Commission