The EU Transport and Tourism Committee has approved an agreement on the mandatory deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure for cars, trucks, and cleaner maritime fuels. The new rules aim to expand the availability of recharging stations and alternative refuelling stations for vehicles. International road transport organisation IRU welcomes the agreement but says many questions have remained unanswered.

EU alternative fuels infrastructure regulation approved; IRU says questions left unanswered

The Council of the EU on Tuesday, 25th April, adopted a new emissions trading system for road transport (ETS II). The system will apply to road transport fuel suppliers starting 2027 unless oil and gas prices are exceptionally high. IRU welcomes the later date in the text but thinks it is still too early.

2027 still too early for new emissions trading system in road transport, says IRU

The EU won't ban diesel HGV production until 2040, according to a leaked document seen by Euroactive, a pan-European news website specialised in EU policies.

Report: EU draft proposal recommends no ban on diesel HGV production until 2040

The launch of the EU's new Galileo service, whose task will be to authenticate the positions of truck drivers recorded by via tachograph, has to be postponed and is now expected to be operational by December 2023, the European Commission has confirmed to Trans.INFO. This means that the new Smart Tachograph 2 devices, which must be installed in all new HGVs from August of this year, won't be able to use the service for a while.

Satellite issue to temporarily impact function on new smart tachographs

The EU is working on adopting a new driving license directive in 2023 that would increase the weight limit for drivers with class B licenses to 4.25 tons, lower the age limits on HGV and bus driving exams, and introduce a digital driving license. Moreover, should everything go according to plan, when a driving license is withdrawn in one EU country, other states will be able to recognise this and do the same in their respective countries.

EU driving license revision could see category B licence weight limits increase to 4.25 tons

The IRU has welcomed the launch of the European Labour Authority’s EU-wide #Road2FairTransport campaign for professional drivers and their employers.

IRU welcomes EU campaign for professional drivers

Due to the introduction of measures contrary to internal market rules, the European Commission has initiated an infringement procedure against Hungary. The Commission is concerned that the fuel price system, under which most foreigners have to pay much more for fuel than Hungarians, is discriminatory and against the principle of free movement of goods.

EU launches legal infringement proceedings against Hungary over fuel price discrimination

The European Union has facilitated the building of Europe’s largest rest area with places for 400 HGVs in Horsens, Denmark. The EU will allocate 162 million Danish kroner (more than 21 million euros) to the project <a href="https://hsfo.dk/artikel/eu-bl%C3%A5stempler-k%C3%A6mpe-rastepladsvision-med-162-mio-kr-en-gave-i-s%C3%A5dan-en-st%C3%B8rrelsesorden-regner-man-sj%C3%A6ldent-med?fbclid=IwAR0KRA7ayz-wskuCZA2ypc7qyObLnDrtZjMBvDV8Pd-tAwfBeA6STc5WLOw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to reports in Denmark</a>.

Europe’s largest rest area with spaces for 400 HGVs to be built in Denmark

The European Parliament voted on the three main drafts of the Fit for 55 package yesterday. The bill, which has been called the largest climate change bill ever, includes the transport sector in the<a href="https://trans.info/en/road-freight-sector-urges-envi-to-include-in-emission-trading-system-286703"> Emissions Trading System</a> 2 (ETS2).

EU decides to include transport sector in Emissions Trading System

Dutch haulage association Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) says it was shocked to learn that the EU's return of trucks obligation also applies to trailers. In addiiton, the organisation has questioned the effectiveness of the enforcement of the regulation.