Priorities on zero- and low-emission mobility in the next EU political cycle

Key messages

• European business stands behind the EU ambition of climate neutrality and is investing heavily to ensure that all modes of transport help to achieve this common goal. The energy transition is an opportunity for European industry that we need to take advantage of. European policymakers should therefore engage with all relevant stakeholders in public-private partnerships and conduct a strategic mapping exercise on where industry’s competitive advantages lie, how to deliver new strategic value chains, match labour skills to future needs and create policy synergies in order to be globally competitive.
• Furthermore, demand-side measures should be coordinated at EU level across all modes of transport, in particular in designing cost-effective consumer and customer purchasing incentives (CPIs), implementing Member State agreements under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive, promoting new mobility services and standardising technology and infrastructural solutions.
• Funding for research, development and deployment can be improved by leveraging remaining structural funds and the new Multiannual Financial Framework, but also by improving the public procurement strategy of Member States, paying attention to the needs of SMEs and underwriting new risks to leverage private-sector financing.
• To complete the integrated approach, it will be important to connect zero- and low-emission mobility legislation to other key areas, to involve stakeholders in reflecting about the feasibility of a robust and reliable methodology for a lifecycle approach, and to develop a stable and enabling policy framework for sustainable, synthetic and advanced fuels and gases.