Background information

On 25 July 2023, the EU Council adopted the final text of the regulation on the use of renewable and low-emission fuels in maritime transport. This is an implementation of the FuelEU Maritime initiative proposed in 2021, which is one of the key parts of the EU's "Fit for 55" package. The new regulations aim to put the maritime sector on the path to achieving the EU climate goals for 2030 and 2050. This is to be achieved through interconnected measures. aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector and promoting the use of renewable and low-emission fuels in it.

Content of measure

The main provisions of the new regulation include the following points.

• Measures to progressively reduce the greenhouse gas emission intensity of fuels used by the shipping sector - by 2% by 2025 and by as much as 80% by 2050.
• A system of incentives to support the dissemination of the so-called renewable fuels of non-biological origin with high decarbonization potential.
• Exclusion of fossil fuels from the certification process provided for in the regulation.
• For passenger ships and container ships - obligation to use shore-side electricity to meet all electricity demand while berthed at quay in major EU ports, coming into force from 2030.
• Allocation of revenues generated from the implementation of the regulation ("FuelEU penalties") to projects supporting the decarbonization of the maritime sector with a strengthened transparency mechanism.
• Monitoring the implementation of the Regulation through the Commission's reporting and review process.

Use of measure

No available information.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies EU (Council, EC, EP)	Companies European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Informed	Informed
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

Social partners were informed by the European Commission on the meetings of the sectoral social dialogue committee about the progress of work on the initiative. Their involvement, however, did not go beyond the public expression of opinions.

Views and reactions

The European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) expressed understanding of the aims of the initiative. However, she emphasized that this involves new challenges for occupational health and safety, which entails the need to improve employees' skills to handle with zero-emission systems. The European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) finally adopted a positive stance towards the regulation.

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 15 July 2021: Occupational health and safety: FuelEU Maritime lacks long-term vision (www.etf-europe.org)
• 23 March 2023: FuelEU Maritime: a step forward towards shipping’s energy transition (www.ecsa.eu)
• 25 July 2023: REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport (data.consilium.europa.eu)
• 25 July 2023: FuelEU maritime initiative: Council adopts new law to decarbonise the maritime sector (www.consilium.europa.eu)