Stimulating the market for clean vehicles: Council ready to start talks with Parliament
The EU is promoting increased use of zero- and low-emission vehicles by setting out minimum procurement targets to encourage public bodies to choose them in public procurement. Today, member states' ambassadors agreed on the Council's negotiating stance on a reform which will help reduce overall transport emissions, contribute to market certainty and stimulate the competitiveness and growth of Europe's industry.
Making transport cleaner is crucial if we want to breathe cleaner air and tackle climate change. With these rules the EU is giving the market a clear signal: the public sector is setting an example and the private sector should follow it.
Rovana Plumb, acting Minister for Transport of Romania, President of the Council
The current clean vehicles directive from 2009 covers only direct purchase by public bodies, and no other procurement practices. And the only transport service contracts included are those for public passenger transport. The Council's mandate extends the scope of the rules to cover all relevant procurement practices such as lease and rental vehicles and hire-purchase. A wider range of services, such as public road transport services, special-purpose passenger services and refuse collection services, are also covered.
The reform will introduce a definition of a 'clean vehicle', taking into account reduction requirements for greenhouse gases and air pollutant emissions from light-duty vehicles. Clean heavy-duty vehicles are defined through the use of alternative fuels in line with existing EU legislation.
The text sets separate 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. Member states must report to the Commission on the implementation of the rules every three years, with the first report due by 18 April 2026.
Following the directive's entry into force, member states will have 30 months to adopt national provisions to put it into practice.
The Commission presented the proposal in November 2017 as part of its second mobility package.
The mandate, which was agreed in the Permanent Representatives Committee, allows the presidency to start talks with the European Parliament. Both institutions need to agree on the final text.