Headlines
- EU leaders set competitiveness and green transition agenda at October Council
- Parliament clears delegated regulation on low-carbon fuels under new gas and hydrogen rules
- Commission moves to stabilise ETS2 carbon prices ahead of 2027 launch
- IMO delays Net Zero Framework amid opposition from US and Saudi Arabia
- E-kerosene producers call for targeted book-and-claim in EU Sustainable Transport Investment Plan
- European ports seek dedicated funding under next CEF to boost resilience
- Court rules TotalEnergies misled consumers with “net zero” advertising
- Rail Baltica secures €295 million CEF grant for Baltic construction
- Eurostar orders €2 billion fleet of double-decker trains for 2031 launch
- Poll finds two in three long-distance travellers deterred by complex rail booking
- Airlines urge parity on climate rules and consolidation in European aviation
EU leaders set competitiveness and green transition agenda at October Council
European leaders have endorsed a sweeping agenda to reinforce competitiveness and ensure a fair, pragmatic green transition. Meeting in Brussels on 23 October, the European Council called for a “step change” in the EU’s regulatory and industrial approach, highlighting simplification, technological neutrality, and affordable clean energy as priorities.
Leaders urged the Commission to accelerate work on simplification packages across major sectors, including automotive, energy, transport and chemicals, and to deliver the sustainability reporting omnibus by year-end. The Council also endorsed a future review of CO₂ standards for cars and vans “taking into account technological neutrality and European content”, alongside an industrial decarbonisation acceleration initiative aimed at scaling demand for clean products made in Europe.
Energy affordability remains central to the agenda. The Council called for measures to lower electricity prices, strengthen interconnections and build a genuine Energy Union before 2030. Traditional industries such as automotive, shipping and aviation are identified as requiring targeted support to remain globally competitive while meeting climate targets.
Leaders reaffirmed that the 2040 climate target must be “achievable, cost-effective and socially fair”, with flexibility to adapt to economic conditions. The Council also endorsed the Commission’s intention to revise ETS2 implementation rules to ensure a smooth entry into force in 2027.
Parliament clears delegated regulation on low-carbon fuels under new gas and hydrogen rules
The European Parliament has completed its scrutiny of the Commission Delegated Regulation establishing a methodology for assessing greenhouse gas savings from low-carbon fuels, confirming that it will not object to the measure. The delegated act supplements the 2024 Directive on renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen markets and sets out the accounting framework for certifying life-cycle emission reductions.
The regulation applies to all low-carbon fuels except recycled carbon fuels, which are already covered by the 2023 delegated act on renewable fuels of non-biological origin. It introduces consistent rules for measuring full life-cycle emissions, including upstream methane leaks, indirect emissions from diverted inputs, and the efficiency of carbon capture and storage. It also defines how fuel batches and raw materials must be tracked through the Union database to ensure traceability.
By mid-2028, the Commission will assess options for recognising low-carbon electricity from nuclear power and for introducing regional average emission factors for electricity used in hydrogen production. The methodology aims to create coherence across renewable and low-carbon certification systems and provide investment certainty to developers. Council endorsement is expected before the 8 November deadline, after which the regulation will enter into force.
Commission moves to stabilise ETS2 carbon prices ahead of 2027 launch
The European Commission has unveiled measures to prevent excessive price volatility under the new Emissions Trading System for road transport and buildings. The announcement by Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra follows months of concern among Member States about the impact of ETS2 on households.
Under the plan, additional carbon allowances will be released if prices exceed €45 per tonne, ensuring greater market stability. Revenues from ETS2 will also be frontloaded: Member States will be allowed to auction allowances in 2026, one year before the system’s launch, to generate funds for clean heating and mobility programmes. The European Investment Bank is developing a complementary financing facility to support lower-income households and SMEs.
The Social Climate Fund, worth €86 billion between 2026 and 2032, remains the main channel for redistribution. Hoekstra said the measures “guarantee predictability and fairness”, while Transport & Environment called the decision “sensible”, noting that stable pricing could anchor the ETS2 carbon cost near €45–55 per tonne. Airlines for Europe welcomed the principle of stability but urged similar consideration for aviation, where ETS compliance costs are projected to double by 2030.
IMO delays Net Zero Framework amid opposition from US and Saudi Arabia
Member States at the International Maritime Organization have voted to postpone by one year the adoption of the Net Zero Framework, the proposed global carbon pricing system for shipping. The decision follows objections led by the United States and Saudi Arabia, both of which warned against imposing what Washington described as a “UN global carbon tax”.
The EU, Japan and several Pacific nations backed the adoption this year, but the motion to delay passed with 57 votes in favour and 49 against. European shipowners expressed regret at the decision, warning that the postponement will prolong investment uncertainty. ECSA Secretary General Sotiris Raptis said the framework is “essential to provide the industry with the certainty it needs and to ensure a level playing field internationally”.
The delay follows years of technical negotiation and is seen as a setback for the EU’s effort to align global and regional decarbonisation regimes. Industry representatives and environmental NGOs criticised US interference, warning that the credibility of the IMO’s climate process is at risk.
E-kerosene producers call for targeted book-and-claim in EU Sustainable Transport Investment Plan
The SASHA Coalition, an alliance representing green aviation and maritime companies coordinated by Opportunity Green, has urged the European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the Council to include a targeted book-and-claim mechanism for e-kerosene in the forthcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP). The coalition’s letter warns that without tailored support, Europe risks losing its early lead in synthetic fuel production.
E-kerosene, produced using renewable hydrogen, is, according to the coaltion, described as the most sustainable and scalable alternative drop-in jet fuel, with over half of global production capacity located in Europe. Yet producers face high capital costs and long distances between renewable energy sites and major aviation hubs. The coalition argues that a well-regulated book-and-claim system would de-risk projects by allowing the environmental attributes of e-kerosene to be traded separately from the physical fuel, helping developers secure finance and offtake agreements.
Nanna Baldvinsdóttir, CEO of IdunnH2, said: “A book-and-claim system could help kick-start the e-kerosene sector, but only if strategically designed. It must be limited to European production, time-bound, and focused on fuels that deliver genuine climate benefits.”
The letter sets out three conditions: the mechanism should apply exclusively to e-kerosene, operate only within the EEA, and include a clear end date to ensure that physical infrastructure is built in the long term. SASHA’s EU Advocacy Manager Delphine Kaczorowski said the STIP “could mark a watershed moment for European clean flight innovation” if it targets the most promising solutions and avoids diverting resources to mature or less sustainable fuels.
The coalition also reiterates its call for STIP to implement contracts for difference for aviation and maritime e-fuels, support hydrogen infrastructure in airports, and channel ETS revenues into zero-carbon technologies.
European ports seek dedicated funding under next CEF to boost resilience
The European Sea Ports Organisation has welcomed the Commission’s proposal for the Connecting Europe Facility 2028–2034 but warned that the increase in funding to €81.4 billion is the minimum required to meet Europe’s strategic objectives. ESPO called for a ring-fenced budget for ports within the CEF Transport envelope, citing their dual role as logistics hubs and energy gateways.
The organisation said ports are critical for the EU’s energy transition, defence readiness and industrial competitiveness. It urged greater support for dual-use infrastructure, renewable energy integration and military mobility. ESPO also called for simplified application procedures and a stable multi-year budget framework to support long-term investment planning.
Court rules TotalEnergies misled consumers with “net zero” advertising
A Paris court has found TotalEnergies guilty of misleading advertising, ruling that its public communications falsely presented the company as a leader in the energy transition despite continued investment in oil and gas. The case, brought by Friends of the Earth France, Greenpeace France and Notre Affaire à Tous with support from ClientEarth, is the first judicial ruling in the world against an oil major’s “net zero” narrative.
The court ordered TotalEnergies and its French electricity subsidiary to withdraw the unlawful campaigns and display the judgment on their website for 180 days. Failure to comply will incur a €10,000 daily fine. Environmental lawyers said the verdict sets a precedent for corporate climate claims, marking a “turning point in holding fossil fuel advertising to legal scrutiny”.
Rail Baltica secures €295 million CEF grant for Baltic construction
The Rail Baltica joint venture has signed a new Connecting Europe Facility grant agreement worth €295.5 million to accelerate work on the cross-border high-speed line linking Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The funding, managed by CINEA, will support mainline construction, bridge and crossing works, electrification design and land acquisition.
CINEA Head of Unit Morten Jensen said the new grant will “significantly contribute to construction progress in all three Baltic States”. RB Rail CEO Marko Kivila said the funds ensure continuity and coordination across borders as the project enters its next construction phase. The next CINEA review mission is scheduled for November in Latvia.
