The clean mobility package is the latest in a series of policy proposals aimed at strengthening the European Union’s (EU) global leadership on sustainable transport. For Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, “the global race for the development of clean cars has been launched”.

With the entry into force of the Paris agreement, we are witnessing a renewed desire to move towards economies with low carbon content at international level. About a fifth of the greenhouse gas emissions produced in the old continent derive from road transport: for this reason, clean mobility is a priority for EU legislators. The European Commission has therefore put forward a series of policy proposals to make transport in Europe greener: the last one is the clean mobility package.

The global tender for the development of clean cars has been launched. But Europe needs to catch up if it wants to lead and lead this global change.

Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Action on Climate and Energy

Search for available translations of the previous, adopted in June 2016, which establishes a series of actions aimed at helping Europe to remain competitive in the sector and to respond to the growing mobility needs of people and goods. Investments and innovations in the field of road transport sustainability are already underway in various regions of the world, in particular with regard to low or zero-emission vehicles: China, for example, has introduced mandatory sales quotas starting from 2019, while California and nine other US states have tightened existing standards. The EU therefore risks losing ground in this global race and cannot afford to take on the role of the chaser.

The clean mobility package includes new rules on CO ₂ emissions for cars and vans: compared to the levels of 2021, in the EU the average emissions of new vehicles falling into these categories will have to be cut by 15% by 2025 and 30 % by 2030. In order to stimulate manufacturers to innovate, there is also a flexible and technology-independent incentive mechanism, which will affect vehicles with low or zero emissions.

The package also includes a directive on clean vehicles, a revision of the combined transport directive, a directive on passenger transport services by bus and an action plan, combined with investment solutions, for an infrastructure for alternative fuels. Furthermore, a new EU initiative intends to support battery production in Europe, which is of strategic importance.

The proposals aim to help the EU meet its climate and energy objectives, thanks to a huge reduction in fuel costs and a significant increase in competitiveness and employment. Among the considerable benefits deriving from their application, mention should be made of the reduction of 170 million tons of CO ₂ (equivalent to the total annual emissions in Austria and Greece) between 2020 and 2030, the improvement of air quality and savings for consumers of around 18 billion euros a year on the purchase of fuels, the possible creation of 70,000 jobs and the reduction of annual European oil spending by around 6 billion euros.

Regarding the clean mobility package, Climate and Energy Action Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete said: “The global tender for the development of clean cars has been launched. But Europe needs to catch up if it wants to lead and lead this global change. Today we invest in Europe and cut pollution to meet the commitment made with the Paris agreement to reduce emissions by at least 40% by 2030 ».