24 September 2021

TRANSPORT MINISTERS DISCUSS AFIR PROPOSAL

Transport ministers of the EU gathered on 23 September at an informal meeting in Slovenia to discuss the key aspects the proposal for a regulation on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR), part of the Fit for 55 Package. Ministers agreed on the need for sufficiently ambitious and coordinated infrastructure planning in the Member States, adapted to the increased 2030 climate ambition targets.

Ministers emphasised during the meeting that countries have different starting points and ask for further flexibility with regards to the binding distance-based targets for recharging infrastructure, especially for rural and low-densely populated areas.

Ministers also discussed the need to provide public support to increase the alternative fuels infrastructure, in a technology-neutral approach. Transport Commissioner Adina Valean stressed that the EU provides support through different funding instruments such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFF) or InvestEU. Finally, ministers pointed out that the competitiveness of the European aviation and maritime industries should be maintained while discussing targets for the development of alternative fuels infrastructure for these sectors.

Council delegates in preparatory meetings will work in the next weeks to find appropriate solutions to these challenges. Minister Vrotec hopes that the Slovenian Presidency will reach a general approach to the AFIR proposal at the Transport Council in December.

Source: Slovenian Presidency of the Council