Commission boosts Europe's competitiveness with new plans for high-speed rail and sustainable fuels for aviation and waterborne sectors

Last week, the European Commission adopted a comprehensive transport package. It will accelerate the roll-out of Europe's high-speed rail network and to boost investment in renewable and low-carbon fuels for the aviation and waterborne sectors.

Competitiveness and sustainability are the guiding principles of this package, which aims to make the EU transport system more efficient, interconnected, accessible, clean and resilient. The measures presented today cover two key areas – rail, where Europe already leads on sustainability, and fuels, where Europe must now accelerate investments for its energy transition.

One of the initiatives adopted – the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) – sets out a common approach to boost investment in renewable and low-carbon fuels focusing on aviation and waterborne transport.

To meet the RefuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime targets, around 20 million tonnes of sustainable fuels (biofuels and e-fuels) will be needed by 2035. Achieving this will require an estimated €100 billion in investment.

The STIP sends a clear signal to investors that Europe's targets remain in place and that the Commission will support the transition to a climate neutral economy. By accelerating domestic production of biological and non-biological fuels, Europe can reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels, enhance the competitiveness of its industries and lead the clean-energy transition globally.

Key investment measures aiming to mobilise at least €2.9 billion through EU instruments by 2027 include:

In the medium term, the Commission will work towards establishing a mechanism to connect fuel producers and buyers, providing revenue certainty and reducing investment risk. The Plan will also strengthen international partnerships to expand global fuel production and attract imports which meet the EU sustainability criteria while ensuring fair competition for EU producers and users.