The European Shipowners' Association welcomed the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) presented today by the European Commission ( of 5 November 2025). In particular, European Shipowners (ECSA) has noted that STIP boosts the uptake of fuels clean, is a good first step that identifies numerous Gaps and shortcomings in the current European political and financial framework clearly recognising the need for greater investments in clean fuels for maritime transport, and identifying possible next steps and concrete action points and, in addition, prioritizes the production of clean fuels in Europe as an urgent issue for the transition to net zero emissions and to reduce dependency Energy. "The STIP - underlined the Secretary General of the association, Sotiris Raptis - is investing in Clean fuels at the heart of the competitiveness agenda. These investments are necessary to maintain capacity improve competitiveness, reduce the energy dependence and achieve net zero emissions".

In addition, European Shipowners welcomed the proposal STIP to use the national revenues of the EU ETS, the Carbon Dioxide Emissions Trading System to support the adoption of clean fuels for maritime transport. In this regard, ECSA reiterated that the Nine billion euros generated by the contribution of transport ETS should be used to bridge the huge price gap with clean fuels, which - he recalled - are on average four times more expensive than fuels Conventional. "The STIP - Raptis pointed out - makes a first An important step towards the use of national ETS revenues to make clean fuels available for maritime transport at a competitive price. The national revenues of the ETS have contributed substantially to the increase in energy renewable energy in Europe. We must see the same happen for the maritime transport'.

Observing then that the STIP correctly points out that there are no clear requirements for European suppliers on the implementation of availability of clean fuels on the transport market the European Shipowners' Association specified that it welcome the commitment to further incentivise the adoption of clean fuels to achieve the objectives of the Renewable Energy Directive and the FuelEU Maritime Programme as a first step towards the introduction of a binding mandate for fuel suppliers. "The use of ETS revenues - specified Raptis - should also be accompanied by a binding mandate for European suppliers to make clean fuels available for maritime transport".

Finally, ECSA pointed out that European shipowners support reduction of administrative burdens, in particular for SMEs that represent the backbone of maritime transport and therefore welcome the commitment of the European Commission to assess the onerous obligations of reporting for shipping companies and to simplify the rules. However, the EU should make a significant contribution to the further step forward and also send a clear message about the full alignment of EU climate legislation with measures once the UN agency has Taken. 'Ensuring a level playing field at the - Raptis underlined - is essential for the competitiveness of European maritime transport. We expect a clear message from the Commission that the EU will align its policy framework to international measures adopted at IMO level'.

Transport & Environment (T&E) has also welcomed the STIP plan which - noted the association, which aims to promote sustainable transport in Europe - contains promising measures to increase the production of e-fuel. For T&E, however, the EU will have to proceed quickly if it wants to maintain its industrial leadership in this technology. In the EU - explained the association - the projects for the production of e-fuels, in fact, have yet to materialize in due to the high costs and lack of supply agreements to long term.

Transport & Environment noted that if the commitment to establish an EU-wide bilateral auction of fuel for air and sea transport, based on an e-SAF pilot auction, will provide concrete resources to start production, however, this should be limited to e-fuels. In the short term - he T&E again noted - the STIP proposes to rely on the existing instruments - the Hydrogen Bank and the Fund for Innovation - which are starting to support the projects of e-fuel, including e-SAF. Although this sends a signal positive - observed the association - these tools alone have so far been unable to reduce the risks to production of e-fuels on an industrial scale. In T&E's view, therefore, the More effective measures than the plan could go too far delayed, as it is necessary to take initiatives for the e-fuel by 2026.

T&E also welcomed the intention of the European Commission to start preparations for the creation of a market intermediary to manage bilateral auctions, taking over that this tool is necessary to stimulate the nascent and to reconcile the needs of e-fuel manufacturers e-fuel in terms of long-term certainty with high-speed contracts used in the aviation and marketing sector shipping.

Noting that for the first time the EU will develop a effective financial instrument to boost the production of e-fuel, Antony Froggatt, Senior Director for Aviation, navigation and energy of T&E, highlighted that "the EU must now follow up on these commitments if it is to contribute to Preserving European technological leadership in e-fuels. Leave The open door to biofuels - he said - will not make than weaken it." The association has in fact reiterated its opposition to the use of biofuels for the decarbonisation of transport and expressed concern about the that the STIP plan leaves the door open to the inclusion of biofuels in bilateral auctions. "Biofuels - warned T&E - are a more mature sector and could monopolize the limited resources of the market intermediary. It is It is essential - argued the association - that only e-fuels are eligible for auctions, as there are no barriers to market for the production of biofuels".

He also noted that the STIP promotes the continued use of the biomethane in the shipping sector, T&E noted that limited stocks of biomethane should rather be considered for sectors that are currently dependent on fossil gas and which urgently need to reduce their dependence on such as domestic heating and heavy industry. "This is particularly worrying - he said T&E detected - why ships currently only buy green certificates for biomethane, while the fuel is actually burned in domestic boilers and other sectors'.

Noting that the STIP plan is limited to encouraging Member States to use revenues from the ETS carbon market to decarbonising maritime transport and air transport, T&E highlighted the need for the revision of the ETS in the 2026 should consider the inclusion of a requirement to use ETS revenues for investments in e-fuel. In addition, the association complained that the STIP does not recognises the untapped potential for increased revenues from the ETS if carbon markets are expanded. Especially T&E estimated that last year there could have been raise more than seven billion euros by extending the ETS to all long-haul flights and found that around €2.4 billion per year of additional revenue could be generated between 2028 and 2035 including small transport ships.

Finally Transport & Environment complained that the STIP did not recommended the obligation to supply e-fuel for maritime use in ports European countries, which most EU countries do not yet have introduced despite the clear indications of the European directive renewable energy, and that the plan missed the opportunity to mobilise the European Investment Bank to invest in the production of e-fuels.

The other important initiative to accelerate the development of of high-speed rail in the EU presented today by the European Commission has been very well received by the ERC, the European association representing companies railway infrastructure managers and their national associations. ERC found that for the success of the European high-speed rail plan is It is essential to clearly define new infrastructures and strengthen them as this will not only ensure the ability to more commuter and freight services, but will improve even drastically the quality of existing services, making travel more comfortable, reliable and considerably more Quick.

In addition, ERC commended the Commission for approving standard speeds of 250 km/h or significantly higher for new high-speed lines, a benchmark that - underlined the association - guarantees that the transport rail can compete effectively with short air travel and attract traffic to the railway. The association has highlighted that this will also bring the same level of high-speed rail excellence across Europe and will maintain competitiveness with countries such as Japan and China.

"The real ambition of the current high-speed agreement - commented the Director General of the ERC, Alberto Mazzola - It is not just an investment in infrastructure, but a direct investment in quality and competitiveness of European travel. With a credible definition of infrastructure high-speed rail now specified, attention must be paid to the move on the speed of implementation. The ERC encourages Member States and the EU institutions to prioritise funding and coordination needed to develop European high-speed rail network and exploit its enormous advantages for all citizens".