The EU Member States’ transport ministers will gather on 27-28 February in Stockholm for an informal meeting. The agenda will be largely devoted to the transition of the sector and its future, as the Member States’ energy ministers will also meet on Monday 27 February. A joint session between the transport and energy ministers is also planned.
The discussions will initially focus on the future transport policy for a competitive and climate neutral Europe. On this occasion, the ministers are expected to discuss how to accelerate the transition and increase the competitiveness of the sector. They will be joined by Catharina Belfrage Sahlstrand, Head of Sustainability and Climate at Svenska Handelsbanken, and Robert Falck, CEO of the Swedish transport company Einride.
Following this, the transport ministers will hold a joint session with their energy counterparts and work on the issue of energy and transport policies for an accelerated transition of the transport sector beyond 2030.
“The trilogues are moving forward on a number of issues in the ‘Fit for 55’ package, so this will also be the time to discuss what can be done to make the EU competitive in the long term”, commented a diplomatic source.
Part of the discussion will therefore be devoted to alternative ways of achieving neutrality in the transport sector. In this regard, Member State ministers will discuss how to promote sufficient investment in non-fossil fuel electricity generation and infrastructure, including electricity grids and charging points, for the large-scale electrification of the sector.
In addition, the relevant ministers will be asked to advise on the policies needed to create the conditions for the production of cost-effective alternatives to direct electrification and transition, such as sustainable biofuels and hydrogen.
“This joint session will allow the transport and energy ministers to work on this issue. We can see an increase in the electrification of the sector, but we must also have other solutions for neutral transport systems”, the same source said.
The following day, Tuesday 28 February, the discussions will focus on the implementation of the ‘Fit for 55’ programme. The competent ministers will take stock and share best practices on how to achieve the objectives set out in the legislative package.
“The second day will focus more on the current situation, the best practices to implement ‘Fit For 55’. The ministers will discuss possible actions at national level, on Member States’ regulations, to achieve the objectives. This is an opportunity to see what worked and what didn’t”, concluded another diplomatic source. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)