As part of the second “mobility” package to be presented on 8 November next, the European Commission will be providing support to the public authorities in the roll-out of alternative fuel infrastructures throughout the Union.
This is proposed in a draft communication to be published during the presentation of the second mobility package, about which EUROPE has obtained information. The Commission points out that widescale use of clean vehicles will only become reality in the event of a huge expansion in appropriate recharging infrastructure in the Union. It also considers that member states’ current goals on this point are insufficient.
It considers that initial assistance from the European Union is “crucial” and that it should therefore provide European financial instruments with an envelope of almost €800 million.
The Commission is therefore expected to initially announce an envelope of €350 million by way of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), in an effort to generate €1.7 billion in investment. This could also be financed by way of the European fund for strategic investments (EFSI), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and public and private banks. €430 million could then be allocated to the NER300 Programme and help to complete the first envelope.
This non-legislative initiative is part of the presentation of several texts, particularly the proposition for a revision of regulations 1073/2009/EU and 561/2006/EC on bus and coach passenger transport (see EUROPE 11895). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)