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On 2^nd February, the TRAN Committee held a first debate on the FuelEU Maritime proposal, which aims to promote sustainable maritime fuels and forms part of the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package. The Rapporteur Jörgen Warborn (EPP, Sweden) started by emphasising the need to maintain the competitiveness of the EU maritime sector in the international context and to avoid excessive compliance costs. He agrees with the greenhouse gases reduction targets and the scope of the Commission proposal, covering only larger ships of more than 5000 gross tonnage but underlines the need to align requirements for onshore power supply (OPS) with the provisions of the future Regulation on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure (AFIR). He also argued that the additional compliance costs for the sector caused by the new Regulation should be offset by reducing the regulatory burden through revisions of other applicable regulations.

Certain Shadow Rapporteurs agreed with the Rapporteur, stressing the need to maintain technological neutrality and thus not restricting the use of feed and food-based biofuels as well as of LNG. Others were of the view that the use of such fuels would not be desirable, and that the Regulation should focus on the promotion of more sustainable alternatives, such as hydrogen or synthetic fuels. They also suggested a lower threshold for ships covered by the Regulation as well as mandatory OPS wherever possible. Finally, certain MEPs raised the special circumstances for ships operating in ice-covered waters and expressed the wish that these be taken into account in the Regulation.

The Rapporteur will present its draft report to the TRAN Committee around mid-April 2022. MEPs can submit amendments until 26 April, which will be up for discussion in May. The TRAN Committee will vote on the draft report in July, with a vote in Plenary session expected in September 2022.