Thursday 27 Mar 2014 @ 16:25
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Building up clean fuel infrastructure across the EU
The member states'
permanent representatives have endorsed the compromise reached between the
Council and the European Parliament concerning a directive on building up
minimum infrastructure for alternative fuels across the
EU.
Creating a sufficient network of
recharging and refuelling stations is considered crucial in order to drive
consumer demand for vehicles powered by "clean fuel", such as
electricity, hydrogen and natural gas, and to encourage manufacturers to
develop such vehicles and to sell them at competitive
prices.
The new directive aims to reduce
transport's dependence on oil and to cut back its greenhouse gas emissions.
It also intends to promote economic growth and job creation in the EU, in
particular in small and medium-sized enterprises.
According to Commission
estimates, alternative fuels coming gradually onto the market are expected to
produce savings on the EU oil bill amounting to about €2.3 billion per
year in 2030, and another €1 billion per year from the dampening of price
fluctuations through improved security of energy
supply.
Under the directive, each member
state will adopt a national policy framework for the market development of
alternative fuels infrastructure, outlining its national targets for putting in
place new recharge and refuel points and relevant supporting actions.
Coordinated by the Commission, the national policy frameworks of all member
states will provide long-term security for private and public investment into
vehicle and fuel technology and infrastructure
roll-out.
Greek minister of
Infrastructure, Transport & Networks Michalis Chrisochoidis made
the following statement: "Today is an important day for the
Greek Presidency, the European Union, and the future of sustainable transport.
We have the approval of the proposal for the Directive on the Deployment of
Alternative Fuels Infrastructure, a directive that aims to minimise oil
dependence for the transport sector and mitigate the environmental impact,
ensuring the build-up of alternative fuel infrastructure and the implementation
of common technical specifications for this infrastructure in the
Union. It is a step that can bring better quality of life for our citizens
and efficiency in transport. From this point forward we expect the necessary
actions of the market forces that can trigger major initiatives towards
economic growth in Europe. I would like to express my sincere thanks to
all the European Institutions that worked together with the Greek Presidency
and of course, to Lithuanian Presidency that put the basis of this
success."
To come into effect, the text
still needs to be formally approved by the Parliament and the Council
(agreement at first reading). The directive will enter into force twenty days
after its publication in the EU Official Journal. After that, member states
will have two years to adopt national provisions to comply with the directive.
Read more here.
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