Letter

European shipowners and T&E warn proposed EU shipping law could do more harm than good

May 31, 2022

ECSA and the green group Transport & Environment (T&E) have joined forces to call on EU countries and the members of the European Parliament to align the FuelEU Maritime Regulation proposal with EU Climate Law and Paris Agreement goals.

ECSA and T&E warn that the Commission proposal falls short of ambition and fails to  address the responsibilities of other stakeholders such as the fuel suppliers. If  adopted in its current form, the proposal might do more harm than good to shipping’s  climate ambition. 

ECSA and T&E support more ambitious targets for the uptake of cleaner fuels for  shipping companies and fuel suppliers. The responsibilities of the fuel suppliers are  essential to achieve these ambitious regulatory targets as called for above (shared  responsibility). ECSA and T&E therefore call for the introduction of robust  requirements on Member States under the FuelEU Maritime to ensure that fuel  suppliers in European ports deliver compliant fuels to ships in sufficient quantities in  order to meet the regulatory objectives. 

The two organisations support the earmarking of revenues generated under the EU  ETS and the FuelEU Maritime to facilitate the energy transition of the sector and  contribute to bridging the price differential between conventional fuels and  sustainable- and scalable alternatives, inter alia, through the carbon contracts for  difference. 

European shipowners and T&E also call for the introduction of a high multiplier for  the use of sustainable and scalable marine fuels under the FuelEU Maritime  Regulation in order to render them cost-competitive relative to other alternatives. 

“European shipowners are ready to contribute their fair share in addressing the  climate crisis at EU level as well. But we need all hands on deck. The current FuelEU  proposal does not address the responsibilities of the fuel suppliers and how cleaner  and safe fuels will become available in Europe. We look forward to further cooperation  with the Commission, the MEPs and the Member States to come up with workable  solutions” said Sotiris Raptis, ECSA’s Secretary-General. 

“The EU’s shipping fuels proposal has the potential to bring the renewables revolution  to the shipping industry. But the current proposal by the Commission risks doing  more damage than good. To seize this historic opportunity, the European Parliament  and Member States should align FuelEU’s regulatory targets with the Paris 

Agreement, EU Climate Law and other international commitments and incorporate  into the law incentives that promote sustainable and scalable fuels like green  hydrogen” said Faig Abbasov, T&E’s shipping programme Director. 

You can find the joint statement of ECSA and T&E here. 

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