TRAN COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS ON REFUEL EU AVIATION
The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee published the amendments tabled by MEPs on the ReFuelEU Aviation proposal. Overall, MEPs tabled amendments underlining the need to reach climate goals as well as ensure air connectivity within the EU and avoid dependency from third country stakeholders.
Amongst others, the MEPs of the European People’s Party (EPP) suggest the inclusion of provisions on sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in the EU air transport agreements and call on Member States to avoid different national blending mandates. They also propose the introduction of a ‘book and claim’ system as of 1 January 2025. Support has also been expressed for free allocations for aircraft operators using SAFs and the establishment of an Aviation Transition Fund, as well as a European SAF Alliance.
MEPs from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group want to include all the available SAFs sources in the scope of SAF and expand the scope to all airports. The amendments by the S&D Shadow Rapporteur, Erik Bergkvist (Sweden), aim to boost SAFs allowing Member States to have higher targets and increase the minimum share of SAF to 15% by 2030, 30% by 2035, 50% by 2040, 75% by 2045, and 100% by 2050. The amendments will be discussed during the next TRAN meeting planned on 20 April.