Rail sector applauds approval of Emissions Trading System (ETS)

On 22 June, the European Parliament, meeting in Brussels, approved with a large majority the report on the Emissions Trading System (ETS) by 439 votes in favour.

The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) thanks the Parliament and the Rapporteur Peter Liese for the challenging and significant achievement on this dossier that introduces the gradual extension of the ETS to emissions from all transport modes, with a gradual shift to 100% allowance auctioning across all sectors.

This will not only help to level the playing field across all modes of transport but offer a unique opportunity to reduce the European Union's reliance on imported fossil fuels thanks to a wider uptake of energy-efficient mobility options and a quicker deployment of renewables in transport.

CER welcomes the utilisation of ETS revenues to boost green transport including railways. Under the new rules at least 10% of the revenues generated from the auctioning of allowances will be put towards "the development of public transport, in particular climate-friendly passenger and freight rail transport‟. ETS revenues and the Social Climate Fund are necessary tools to provide support for the most vulnerable households by providing clean and fair mobility options. The rules on revenues are particularly timely as the EU is discussing the investment needs of the TEN-T network. ETS revenues would provide EU and national budgets with annual amounts to co-finance rail infrastructure and fleet investments to put in place the rail services required by the EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola said: "It is essential that revenues from ETS be fully utilised to boost climate mitigation and a just transition. We sincerely thank Rapporteur Liese for his efforts. Railways today are in need of new physical and digital infrastructures. The completion of the TEN-T network is the perfect opportunity to make railways more competitive and transport greener and we hope that ETS revenues will contribute financially to such goals."

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