Promoting clean vehicles: provisional deal with Parliament
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The EU is stimulating the market for zero- and low-emission vehicles by encouraging their use in public procurement.
On 11 February, the Romanian presidency reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on a reform which will increase market certainty and help cut down overall transport emissions. The new rules will also strengthen the competitiveness of European industry in the expanding global markets for these new technologies. The agreement will now be submitted for confirmation by member states in the Council.
“Today’s agreement shows Europe’s commitment to decarbonising the transport sector. By making the right choices in its procurement policy, the public sector can play a major role in supporting innovative greener solutions. This is exactly what these rules are about.”
Rovana Plumb, acting Minister for Transport of Romania, President of the Council
The reform sets out minimum procurement targets for clean light-duty vehicles, trucks and buses for 2025 and 2030. The targets are expressed as minimum percentages of clean vehicles in the total number of road transport vehicles covered by the aggregate of all procurement contracts and public service contracts.
The text includes a new definition of a ‘clean vehicle’. The definition of a clean light-duty vehicle is based on CO2 emission standards. The definition of clean heavy-duty vehicles is based on the use of alternative fuels.
The scope of the rules is extended in terms of the procurement practices covered. The new rules will also apply to a wider range of services, including public road transport services, special-purpose passenger services, refuse collection, and postal and parcel delivery services.
Following the directive’s entry into force, member states will have 24 months in which to adopt national provisions. They will need to report to the Commission on the implementation of the rules every three years, with the first report due by 18 April 2026.
The Commission presented the proposal in November 2017 as part of its second mobility package.
Next steps
The presidency will submit today’s agreement to EU ambassadors at a forthcoming meeting of the Council’s Permanent Representatives Committee. A formal vote in both Parliament and the Council will follow at a later date.
Clean mobility package (information on Commission proposals)
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