The Commission expresses its satisfaction with the political agreement reached yesterday between the European Parliament and the Council regarding the ReFuelEU Aviation proposal.

Once in place, the new rules will help decarbonise the aviation sector by requiring fuel suppliers to blend increasing amounts of sustainable jet fuel with kerosene from 2025.

This measure itself is foreseen reduce annual CO2 emissions from aircraft by around two-thirds by 2050; compared to the no-action scenario, and deliver climate and air quality benefits by reducing non-CO2 emissions.

The agreement is the last agreement on the transport proposals under the 55% adaptation package, as agreements have already been reached on updated rules for emissions trading in the aviation and maritime sectors, with promoting sustainable fuels for shipping, as well as faster development of alternative fuel infrastructure.

“The EU is putting all sectors on the path to climate neutrality by taking the necessary steps to meet our climate targets for 2030 and 2050. We have now taken another important step to reduce emissions in the aviation sector . Fuel suppliers to EU airports should provide an increasing share of sustainable aviation fuel and aircraft operators should increase their use in parallel. The EU is ‘ready to take off’ towards a more sustainable future for air transport” says Mr. Frans Timmermans, executive vice president for the European Green Deal.

“This political agreement is a turning point for European aviation, as it sets it on a steady path towards decarbonisation. Transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels will improve our energy security while reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports. These kinds of measures help make Europe a world leader in the production of innovative and clean fuels. We estimate that the sustainable aviation fuel market will create more than 200 000 additional jobs in the EU, mainly in the renewable energy sector” points out Mrs. Adina Valean, Commissioner for Transport.

Increasing quantities of sustainable aviation fuels

The new rules will include the following requirements:

1) aviation fuel suppliers should supply a minimum share of sustainable aviation fuel to EU airports of 2% of all fuel supplied by 2025 and 70% by 2050. The new EU aviation fuel mix it should also contain a minimum share of the most modern and environmentally friendly synthetic fuels, which will increase over time;

2) aircraft operators departing from EU airports should only refuel with the fuel necessary for the flight, to avoid emissions related to the added weight or carbon leakage caused by ‘refuelling’ practices; excess fuel’ (deliberately carrying additional fuel to avoid refueling with sustainable aviation fuel);

3) airports should ensure that they have fueling infrastructures suitable for the distribution of sustainable aviation fuels.

To support sustainability targets, the blending obligation includes recycled coal fuels and synthetic jet fuels (jet fuels) under the Renewable Energy Directive, but excludes fuels from food and feed crops. As the new mandate will apply across the EU, it will ensure a level playing field within the EU’s internal market, provide legal certainty for fuel producers and boost large-scale production across the continent. It will also increase the EU’s energy security by reducing dependencies on energy products coming from third countries and create thousands of new energy jobs. EU airlines will have access to increasing amounts of sustainable aviation fuel across the EU.

Next steps

All that remains now is for yesterday’s political agreement to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council. Once this process is complete, the new legislation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force immediately.

This agreement is another important step towards the implementation of the Commission’s 55% adaptation package and will contribute to the achievement of the EU’s climate ambitions under the European Green Deal.

Aviation emissions in Europe increased by an average of 5% annually between 2013 and 2019. Although they fell dramatically during the pandemic, aviation emissions are projected to increase further. The aviation sector’s increased climate ambition will be vital for the EU to meet its climate targets under the Paris Agreement and to make the European Green Deal a reality.

To achieve climate neutrality, the EU needs to reduce transport emissions by 90% by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels). The ReFuelEU Aviation initiative will help the aviation sector contribute to this goal, together with the revised rules for the EU emissions trading scheme in the aviation sector.

George Fellidis