EESC proposes plan for cleaner fuels in the EU

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is calling for a comprehensive EU strategy to speed up the move away from fossil fuels and the adoption of cleaner, renewable and affordable alternatives. This change will help the environment, make Europe more energy-independent, and create new business opportunities and jobs.

The EESC suggests using sustainable liquid fuels (SLFs), which are made from renewable sources like plants or waste. These fuels are important in particular for sectors such as aviation and heavy-duty transport, where electric options are not practical.

‘We are calling for the transition from fossil fuels to decarbonised and renewable alternatives, addressing sustainability, affordability and reliability across all modes of transport,’ said Veselin Mitov, rapporteur for the EESC opinion on this topic.

The strategy calls for making the most of what’s already in place. Much of the existing fuel infrastructure, such as storage tanks, pipelines and transport networks, can already handle these new types of fuels. This means Europe can switch without needing to build everything from scratch. This would help keep costs down for business and society.

To make the fuel supply more efficient, the EESC says it’s important to improve how raw materials, known as feedstocks, are sourced, processed and delivered. It recommends creating industrial hubs where different sectors can work together to blend, store and move these fuels more easily and cost-effectively.

One of the main sources for SLFs is sustainable biomass, such as plant material, wood waste and used cooking oil. While potential biomass availability is not considered to be a barrier in Europe, the EESC believes more research is needed to develop its production and make better use of it. The Committee is also encouraging open dialogue with industries such as agriculture, chemicals and waste management, which all play a role in building strong and reliable supply chains for these fuels.

The opinion points out that producing renewable fuels must become cheaper. This means making it easier and more affordable to get clean electricity and feedstocks and supporting the expansion of production facilities. EU funding programmes can help bring in the money and research needed to scale things up and make these fuels competitive.

Finally, the EESC sees the green energy shift as a major opportunity for job creation. To prepare the workforce for this change, it recommends launching training programmes and education initiatives. These would help people learn the new skills needed for green jobs, while supporting a fair and inclusive transition for workers across Europe.