Committee of the Regions
draft report
Clean power for transport
Ille Allsaar
AEC and AEM Brussels Office
Introduction

Rapporteur: Saima Kalev (EE/EA)
Member of Jõgeva Rural Municipality Council
 First discussion in the Commission for
Territorial Cohesion Policy (COTER) on 26th of
February 2013
 Adoption of the draft opinion by the COTER
Commission on 7.05.2013
 Adoption of the draft opinion by the CoR plenary
session on 3-4.07.2013
Reference documents

Communication from the Commission to the
European Parliament, the Council, the European
Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions - Clean Power for
Transport: A European alternative fuels strategy
 COM(2013) 17 final
 Proposal for a Directive of the European
Parliament and of the Council on the deployment
of alternative fuels infrastructure
 COM(2013) 18 final
EC communication main aim

The Commission Communication on a
European alternative fuels strategy evaluates
the main alternative fuel options available to
substitute oil whilst contributing to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from
transport, and suggests a comprehensive list
of measures to promote the market
development of alternative fuels in Europe,
complementing other policies for reducing oil
consumption and GHG emissions from
transport.
EC Directive main aim

This proposal for a Directive aims at
ensuring the build-up of alternative fuel
infrastructure and the implementation
of common technical specifications for
this infrastructure in the Union. Its
objective is to facilitate the work of
market forces and contribute with this
initiative to economic growth in Europe.
Estimated savings and costs

A strategy for the transport sector to
gradually replace oil with alternative fuels and
build up the necessary infrastructure could
bring savings on the oil import bill of € 4.2
billion per year in 2020, increasing to € 9.3
billion per year in 2030, and another € 1
billion per year from dampening of price
hikes.

The investment in the build-up of alternative fuels
infrastructure is estimated at € 10 billion.
The main alternative fuel options
Electricity
 Hydrogen
 Biofuels
 Natural gas (in the forms of
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), or GasTo-Liquid (GTL))
 And Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Priority Fields for further EU Action

addressing alternative fuels infrastructure,
 developing
common
technical
specifications,
 addressing consumer acceptance,
 addressing technological development.
Key messages of the Committee
of the Regions

it is not only about the change in a transport
system, but also about national energy policies, as
Member States have to choose a long term
investment policy in alternative fuel infrastructure;
 while setting up deadlines for infrastructure in
place, the Commission should taken into account
in addition the geographical and climatic
differences, and new technological solutions and
timing necessary to work out and to agree over
those common standards.

while setting up deadlines for infrastructure in place, the
Commission should taken into account
in addition the
geographical and climatic differences, and new technological
solutions and timing necessary to work out and to agree over
those common standards.
Estonia is the first in the world to open a nationwide electric vehicle fastcharging network. What if there will be new standards which do not match
with the current network’s standards? At the same time it is clear that the
standards are needed in order to travel electric vehicle from one country to
another…
Country-wide quick charging network (163 quick chargers)
Cities and municipalities in Estonia have more
than 400 electric vehicles in everyday use
(mostly used by social workers)
Key messages of the Committee
of the Regions


finds that the deadlines set out in the Directive are too
short because before adopting the national policy
frameworks and the administrative rules should be
preceded by a collaboration of local and regional
authorities, national-depth analysis and discussion,
involving the various parties, and the development of
sustainable financial schemes;
Remind that while implementing the Commission's
proposals must ensure that the operation of the free market
and competition would be disturbed as little as possible.
Should make it more attractive to private companies, and
removing the fears that exist today.
Key messages of the Committee
of the Regions

as an assembly of local and regional
representatives has to inspire and support
the discussion and exchange of experience
over alternative fuel use for the purpose of
urban transport to have greener, cleaner and
sustainable cities. It should also discuss how
regional and local authorities could
influence behaviour of citizens to encourage
them to use alternative fuels engines more.
Key messages of the Committee
of the Regions

pointed out that while making policy choices it is
necessary to ensure affordable energy prices for
citizen, taking into account still shrinking
household incomes in many Member States. It
applies also to prices of infrastructure and new
alternative fuels.
 infrastructure requirements should be based on
economic expediency, and to ensure compatibility
of investments already on the market and the
vehicles.
Key messages of the Committee
of the Regions

Common technical specifications, are
necessary to kick start the market, to ensure
economy of scale and EU wide circulation
with alternative fuels.
 Common standards should help to meet the
objective of the Directive in the Member
States and to ensure the long-term certainty
for investors and infrastructure investments.
Key messages of the Committee
of the Regions

vision of the necessary investment needs to be
comprehensive and realistic, and funding
opportunities from various EU funds must be clear
and coherent
 if some financing are to be provided under the
Regional Policy it should be programmed during
next months.
 the CoR supports, that urban mobility plans that
may be financed under the future ERDF funding.
Key messages of the Committee
of the Regions

observing the principle of technological
neutrality, strategy must cover all possibilities,
without favoring any specific fuel.
 use of biofuels in transport will have the intended,
positive outcome only if biofuels are produced
from commodities obtained in a way that does not
distort the natural balance of the environment,
food supply or the economic balance of the
market, or social balance .
Key messages of the Committee
of the Regions

national policy frameworks should be
balanced in their energy sources choices,
not to turn from one (oil outside the EU)
dependency into another (natural gas
outside the EU) and diversification of
alternative fuels sources shall be proposed,
taking into account the elements needed for
its production
Key messages of the Committee
of the Regions


introducing alternative fuels in the EU mean a necessity to
change consumer behaviour by encouraging them to use
private cars with alternative fuels; there is a need for a
public campaign to make consumers aware of this change
and its consequences.
"no one size fits all", there may be different ways to
encourage alternative fuels use, as also participation of
prosumers, (producers and consumers of energy) in an
energy network as a remedy for, from one side, growing
energy needs, from another, for switch from carbon energy
production to renewables. But this policy has to be
encouraged as well, also by having technology to buy and
to use for affordable price.
Thank you!