Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has welcomed this week’s announcement by the Council of the European Union of the adoption of two new laws under the EU Fit for 55 Package which puts Europe on a committed path away from fossil fuels in road-based and maritime transport.

The new laws are the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which will directly support the transition of cars, vans and trucks to electric and other zero-emission fuels right across Europe’s main road networks; and the FuelEU Maritime Regulation which will increase the share of renewable and low-carbon fuels in the fuel mix of international maritime transport.

The latter’s aim is to introduce a harmonised regulatory framework in the EU to increase the share of renewable and low-carbon fuels in the fuel mix of international maritime transport and to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, while ensuring a level playing field and avoiding distortions in the internal market.

The agreement between the European Parliament and the Council will see more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets than those initially put forward by the European Commission, as well as additional incentives for the uptake of renewable fuels.

Welcoming the agreement, Minister Ryan reflected on the importance of working to decarbonise the shipping sector.

“Shipping is a global industry, and an agreement like this in the EU can help to drive global ambition. This agreement represents an important milestone in the journey to decarbonise the sector. It sets out clear climate obligations for shipping companies and sends a strong signal to fuel suppliers about future demand. We will continue to work closely with the sector during the implementation phase and ensure robust enforcement of these new rules once enacted.”

The regulation will cover large ships, responsible for approximately 90% of shipping emissions in the EU. From the year 2030, it will also oblige these ships to plug into onshore power when docked in larger EU ports, helping to address air quality issues in coastal cities and towns across Europe.

Minister of State Jack Chambers said: “We believe the agreement represents an ambitious and well-balanced solution for all EU member states. Circa 90% of goods arrive to Ireland by sea, and as such, Ireland has a particularly high dependence on maritime transport.

“We don’t underestimate the challenges ahead for the sector in adapting to these changes, but this regulatory certainty is necessary to catalyse the decarbonisation of shipping. This regulation, in tandem with other transport measures, sets us on the right path for our environmental obligations to 2030 and beyond.”

Following the formal adoption by the Council, the new regulations will be published in the EU’s official journal after the summer and will enter into force the twentieth day after this publication. The AFIR will apply from six months after the date of entry into force of the regulation. The FuelEU Regulation will apply from 1 January 2025, apart from articles 8 and 9 which will apply from 31 August 2024.