Transport
Commission sends blitz inspection to BMW to look into cartel concerns
The European Commission sent its officials to the premises of BMW this week for an unannounced inspection, amid concerns of a possible violation of EU antitrust rules by "several German car manufacturers".
Truckers from western Europe break posted workers rules, Czech border checks show
Employers from the western EU Member States don’t stick to the rules when it comes to posted workers, a series of checks conducted by the Czech Republic has shown.
EU transport chief: we must complete transport network to stay competitive
The EU must press on with building the Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) core network, even though the costs are estimated at €750 billion and public funds will not be enough, Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc told EURACTIV Greece in an interview. The Slovenian Commissioner also said it was up to the member states to decide which mechanisms they wish to …
EU agrees on Brexit-proof emissions trading amendment
EU lawmakers and member states agreed on Wednesday (18 October) a measure to guard the carbon market in case of a breakdown in Brexit talks as well as extending the exemption of international flights from the bloc's charges for carbon emissions until the end of 2023.
Digital transport has huge potential but needs clear framework, standards
Digitalisation of transport is going to transform Europe's industry, but the political framework needs to put in place common standards and regulate the free flow of data, as well as its management and privacy, industry and EU officials said this week.
More than half of EU biodiesel made from imported crops, study finds
Some 53% of EU biodiesel is made with imported feedstock, according to a recent analysis of European Commission data by NGO Transport and Environment, and almost half of imported palm oil is burned in car engines.
MEP: EU needs common standards for digital transport, data management
Europe will have to work hard against competitors in China and the US to be a global leader in digital solutions for transport, an MEP involved in the issue told EURACTIV.com in an interview. Legislation must ensure common standards across the EU for transport to flow freely, she stressed.
Where will big data drive European transport?
This week, EURACTIV reports from the European Transport Forum in Brussels, where stakeholders gather to discuss how big data will transform today’s transport and to assess the associated challenges and risks.
Data regulation needs careful guidance not unwieldy lawmaking
The advancements in technology brought about by data are often referred to as the next “industrial revolution” that will create unprecedented change in our economy and in the way we live our lives, affecting sectors as diverse and disparate as banking and biotechnology.
‘Black gold’ rush to peak in 2030 thanks to rise of electric car
World petrol demand will peak within 13 years thanks to the impact of electric cars and more efficient engines, energy experts have predicted. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.
Airbus exec.: EU ‘bonus’ for aviation biofuels may be too little
The European Commission’s proposal to incentivise the production of biofuels for aircraft with a 20% “multiplier” goes in the right direction, says Thierry Nowaczyk from Airbus. The question is whether this is enough to fill the price gap with fossil-based kerosene, he told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Commission wants ‘real progress’ on live animal transport but no law review plans
EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis wants to see “real progress” in the proper implementation of animal transport rules, a European Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV.com. But the EU executive claims the current legislation is comprehensive and does not plan to review it.
Time to push e-mobility
Electric vehicles are an essential part of the solution to meeting Europe's climate and energy targets and the issue is becoming increasingly urgent, writes Kristian Ruby.
European battery alliance launched in Brussels
The European Commission hosted auto, chemical and engineering executives in Brussels yesterday (11 October) to develop battery manufacturing in the EU to compete with Asian and US manufacturers.
Buildings law gets preliminary stamp of approval from European Parliament
MEPs on Wednesday (11 October) backed a revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) after a draft report managed to win broad support from across the political spectrum in a key Parliament committee.
Flying on palm oil: Why ICAO’s ‘green fuel’ plan spells climate disaster
Plans to rapidly scale up the use of biofuels in air transport inevitably mean increasing reliance on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), most of which currently contain palm oil, the worst polluting biofuel, warns Almuth Ernsting.
Electric mobility’s time has come
“You can resist an invading army; you cannot resist an idea whose time has come.” Victor Hugo obviously was not referring to electric mobility when he wrote these stirring lines, but his words would have been just as fitting, writes Alberto Piglia.
Europe, a bulwark against turbulence
A less naive, more reactive, Europe must have a vision for the future of the aviation sector, taking into account the interests of all: aircraft manufacturers, airport platforms and airlines, writes Franck Proust.
Renewables loophole threatens to dilute EU buildings law objectives
An oversight in the revised text of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) risks undermining the European Commission’s promise to place "efficiency first" across all EU energy legislation ahead of a defining vote in Parliament this week.
Biofuels phase-out will raise demand for feed imports, industry warns
Biofuels in the EU are deeply intertwined with global food and feed markets. As the EU discusses its future biofuels policy, their contribution to the bloc's animal feed supply and impact on food prices have emerged as major battlegrounds between supporters and critics.
Lightweighting: A solution for low-carbon mobility
Making vehicles lighter by using lightweight solutions is key to reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from vehicles without compromising passenger safety.
MEP: ‘Sustainable’ biofuels and e-mobility both needed in post-2020 EU transport
If the EU intends to meet its climate obligations under the Paris Agreement, then it should favour both “sustainable” biofuels and electric cars in post-2020 transport, MEP Seán Kelly told EURACTIV in an interview.
EU auditors warn of slow deployment of rail management system
The deployment of an EU-wide railway signalling system, a key part of the bloc's efforts to help smooth cross-border rail traffic within the Union, has been very slow as there have been no binding deadlines and stakeholders have been reluctant to invest, a report released by the European Court of Auditors on Tuesday (3 October) revealed.
Green MEP: Sustainability criteria will distinguish ‘good’ and ‘bad’ biofuels
Sustainability criteria are needed to make a clear distinction between “bad” biofuels like palm oil and “good” ones like some ethanol, MEP Bas Eickhout told EURACTIV in an interview.