Preliminary agreement in the EU on the use of low-emission fuels in maritime transport, winter navigation well taken into account

The EU Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission have reached a preliminary agreement on the use of renewable and low-emission fuels in maritime transport. Agreement on the so-called FuelEU Maritime Regulation was reached in trilogue negotiations on 22 March 2023. In the agreement reached, Finland’s particular characteristics in winter navigation are well taken into account. The agreement will be confirmed at the meeting of the Council of Ministers.

In July 2021, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a regulation on marine fuels as part of the EU climate package, i.e. the Fit for 55 package. The regulation requires ships to gradually increase the uptake of alternative fuels. A target, which will tighten every five years, will be set from 2025 onwards to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used by ships.

In addition, an obligation will be imposed on container and passenger ships to use on-shore power supply or zero-emission technology in ports from 2030 onwards. During the negotiations, the targets for reducing greenhouse gas intensity were tightened at the request of the European Parliament.  

Finland's efforts to take winter navigation into account were rewarded

In the negotiations, it was important for Finland to ensure a sufficient level of ambition and to take the competitiveness of the Member States into account. Finland’s proposal to ease winter navigation was included on a fixed-term basis in the general approach adopted by the EU Member States on 2 June 2022. It has now been improved further. A concession granted on the basis of the vessel ice class will remain in force on a permanent basis and the concession based on ice navigation until the end of 2034.

“Finland has played an active and sustained role in the EU to ensure that winter navigation be taken into account in the regulation. I am fairly pleased with the outcome. The agreement reached reflects the success of the work,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka. Minister Harakka also thanks Finnish MEPs in key positions in Parliament for their contribution to winter navigation.

The Fit for 55 package includes other Commission initiatives affecting maritime transport. In December 2022, the EU agreed to include maritime transport in the emissions trading scheme from 2024 onwards. All the details of the agreement reached on the FuelEU Maritime Regulation are not yet known.

What's next?

Next, the preliminary agreement will be discussed in the Permanent Representatives Committee of the Member States (Coreper). The regulation proposal will then be adopted at the meeting of the Council of Ministers and will also require formal approval by the Parliament. The regulation will take effect 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Inquiries:

Johanna Juselius, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 342 141, [email protected]

Niina Honkasalo, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 50 302 8123, [email protected], Twitter @HonkasaloNiina