The European Commission has presented a package of measures aimed at accelerating the transition to low-carbon emissions in all sectors of the economy in Europe including the transport sector. These proposals set clear and fair guiding principles for Member States to prepare for the future, while at the same time aiming to keep the EU competitive as the global social economic model changes following the impetus to move towards a low-carbon economy set by the Paris Agreement on climate change.

In 2014 the EU agreed to a clear commitment: to collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels across all sectors of the economy. The current proposals present binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for Member States from 2021-2030 for the transport, buildings, agriculture, waste, land-use and forestry sectors as contributors to EU climate action. Furthermore, the Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility sets the course for the development of EU-wide measures on low and zero-emission vehicles and alternative low-emissions fuels.

“The Energy Union is delivering,” EC Vice-President in charge of Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said in a statement. “With the proposed reform of the Emissions Trading System last year and today's proposal on greenhouse gas emissions targets for Member States, we anchor the 2030 Energy and Climate framework in legislation. We are also setting our transport system firmly on the path towards zero-emissions. Today's package shows that we are mobilising all our policies towards the competitive, circular and low-carbon economy that we promised in the Energy Union Strategy,” he said.

EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc noted that transport accounted for a quarter of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions and was a main cause of air pollution. “The transition to low-emission mobility is therefore essential to reach the EU's ambitious climate objectives and to improve the quality of life in our cities. It is also an opportunity to modernise the EU's economy and keep Europe's industry competitive,” she said, adding that the new strategy presented a roadmap towards low-emission mobility that would give an impetus to that shift.

Commenting on the low-emission mobility strategy, European Distribution System Operators' Association (EDSO for Smart Grids) Secretary General Ana Aguado said that the communication showed a step-up of ambition on low-emission mobility, and it was clear that electro-mobility would play a critical role. In a statement, she said: ‘‘Distribution system operators’ electricity networks are crucial facilitators of Europe’s transition towards low-carbon transport. This includes the smart integration of both the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), as well as of renewables into Europe’s electricity grids.”