EU Ministers responsible for Transport met on 9 December 2021 in Brussels. The Bulgarian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Christina Velinova. The agenda of the meeting included a review of the Fit for 55 Package, regulations on sustainable air transport (ReFuelEU Aviation Regulations), the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure and the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport (FuelEU Maritime).
Transport Ministers also discussed progress in adopting regulations on alternative fuels in air and maritime transport. "Access to sustainable aviation fuels in Europe is limited, and building of production capacity by 2025 is a major challenge for many Member States. We are convinced that the specificities of the Member States should be taken into account, and that all low-carbon options should be considered in order to achieve the climate goals. In this regard, we propose that the deadline for the obligation to introduce sustainable fuels in aviation be 2030", the Head of the Bulgarian delegation Christina Velinova said. She also noted the importance of a smooth transition to the use of sustainable fuels in heavy goods vehicles. "The mass deployment of zero-emission vehicles in the heavy goods vehicle sector will require a long transition period that will last for years. For carriers, deployment in such conditions would mean a serious financial burden and uncertainty. This situation is aggravated by other provisions in the current European Transport Legislation, such as the return of the vehicle under the Mobility Package I. The latter leads to unnecessary financial costs for carriers, compromises the EU's climate ambitions and burdens supply chains and border controls during the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic", Deputy Minister Christina Velinova said.
