Road Transport Archives | Euractiv

Spain can’t afford to keep its roads toll-free, says construction leader

Brian Maguire — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 21:57:39 +0000

Spain’s free-road model is draining public funds and undermining its green transition, warns SEOPAN President Julián Núñez

French, German, Italian business groups demands further deregulation

Stefano Porciello — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:25:23 +0000

The new EU 2040 climate goal could trigger de-industrialisation, they argued

MEPs want to start spending future fuel levy right now

Stefano Porciello — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:00:03 +0000

This could save a key EU emission law from public uproar, and help citizens at the same time

Truck drivers celebrate as Romania, Bulgaria join borderless Schengen area

Georgi Gotev — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 06:48:07 +0000

Lorry drivers, who currently wait up to 20 hours at border crossings, celebrated the news of Bulgaria and Romania's full Schengen accession.

Future-proofing the EU’s road transport sector: A roadmap for policymaker action

Marco Venosta — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 14:00:20 +0000

The EU’s road transport sector faces critical challenges. The IRU's roadmap urges policymakers to enact supportive legislation to ensure the EU's economic and environmental goals are met.

German Minister Wissing: Tariffs on Chinese cars ‘wrong approach’

Jonathan Packroff — Wed, 29 May 2024 04:31:50 +0000

Putting up tariffs on Chinese electric cars to protect the European industry was the wrong approach, German liberal Transport Minister Volker Wissing told Euractiv in an interview, promoting international competition.

German transport minister stirs climate debate with threat of driving bans

Jonathan Packroff — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 05:30:02 +0000

A debate on abandoning sector-specific climate targets is heating up in Germany after Transport Minister Volker Wissing from the liberal FDP party warned that he might have to impose car bans on weekends unless the country’s climate law is reformed.

Carbon pricing crucial to deliver on greening transport, Volvo boss says

Jonathan Packroff — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 04:00:48 +0000

The implementation of the EU’s carbon pricing scheme for road transport is crucial to drive the business case for electric and hydrogen trucks, Martin Lundstedt, CEO of the Volvo Group, told Euractiv in an interview.

EU transport ministers discuss ‘problem child’ of green transition

Jonathan Packroff — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:20:25 +0000

As EU transport ministers gather for an informal meeting in Brussels on Wednesday (3 April), the sector remains the "problem child" of the bloc's climate efforts and could account for 44% of all greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to latest projections.

Belgium postpones EU vote on truck emissions as Germany imperils majority

Jonathan Packroff — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:13:23 +0000

Belgium has postponed a vote by EU ambassadors on new emission standards for trucks – initially planned for Wednesday (7 February) – to Friday, after Germany withdrew its previous support for the law, leaving the majority unclear.

Polish truckers suspend Ukraine border blockade

Georgi Gotev — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 05:35:48 +0000

Polish truckers will suspend their longstanding blockade of the Ukrainian border following an agreement with the government, authorities said Tuesday (16 January), in a move that could resolve a source of friction between the allies.

Economic losses pile up in Ukraine as Polish truckers protest

Georgi Gotev — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 06:22:13 +0000

Weeks of road blockades by Polish truckers protesting at the border will reduce Ukraine's overall imports by about a fifth in November and could cost Kyiv one percentage point of GDP growth if they drag on, a Ukrainian official said.

Polish hauliers to block Ukraine border crossings in protest

Georgi Gotev — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 05:31:25 +0000

Polish truckers will block several border crossings with Ukraine starting next week in protest at what they say is Ukrainian hauliers' free rein in Poland that is hurting their business, a co-organiser of the protest told Reuters.

Italy to earmark €12 billion for mega Sicily bridge project

Georgi Gotev — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:54:53 +0000

Italy's government said on Monday (16 October) it would set aside 12 billion euros to build a giant bridge to connect Sicily to the mainland, as it revives a project that appeared to have been killed off ten years ago.

Desperate foreign truckers stage hunger strike in Germany

Georgi Gotev — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 06:48:55 +0000

Foreign truck drivers who transport goods around Europe have staged a hunger strike in Germany as part of a weeks-long work stoppage, describing it as their "last hope" to draw attention to the exploitation they say they suffer.

EU Council adopts watered-down Euro 7 position despite German objections

Sean Goulding Carroll — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 14:43:47 +0000

EU countries officially agreed their position on draft vehicle pollution standards, known as Euro 7, on Monday (25 September), significantly toning down the Commission’s original proposal in an apparent bid to ensure Europe’s automotive competitiveness.

Green NGO supports controversial CCS to ensure e-fuels reach CO2 neutrality

Jonathan Packroff — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 08:19:00 +0000

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be deployed in limited cases to ensure e-fuels reach full climate neutrality, green group Transport & Environment has told Euractiv, responding to claims by e-fuel producers that 100% emissions reductions are not possible.

EU auditors highlight need for more than one solution to road transport emissions

Lorena Stile — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 10:00:33 +0000

A new European Court of Auditors report shows the risks of relying only on electric vehicles for the future of road transport. As EU Biofuels Chain members write, Europe needs to be more open to a range of technologies.

Germany’s transport targets sacrificed to save faltering coalition

Jonathan Packroff — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 12:48:52 +0000

Receive the Transport Brief in your inbox by subscribing here. Over the last weeks and months, the German government has been rattled by conflicts. Be it on internal combustion engines, gas and oil boilers for home heating, or a general speed limit on German highways, all conflicts follow a similar narrative structure. While the Greens, […]

Green procurement: The key to decarbonise construction and road transport

Valentina Romano — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 04:30:50 +0000

Current public procurement practices will not put the EU on track to meet its climate goals, even though public spending is widely recognised as a key lever to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors like road transport and construction, writes Evelin Piirsalu.

How to prepare our grids for electric trucks

Valentina Romano — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:44:48 +0000

Trucks represent less than 2% of Europe’s vehicles but cause 25% of road transport emissions, and their electrification is key to meeting the EU's climate goals. Decision makers, energy regulators, and grid operators should move quickly to optimise the charging infrastructure, writes Julia Hildermeier.

Fuelmakers’ biofuels investments dwarf hydrogen, study finds

Jonathan Packroff — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 06:00:46 +0000

Efforts to reduce fossil fuel use in transport overly concentrate on ramping up second-generation biofuels, neglecting synthetic fuels made with green electricity, according to a new study commissioned by green group Transport & Environment (T&E).

No plan but plenty of blame over Germany’s transport emissions

Jonathan Packroff — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 12:42:27 +0000

To succeed in its target, Germany's emergency climate program must almost halve CO2 emissions from transport by 2030. However, political infighting is proving to be a roadblock.

CITA stands for safe and clean road transport!

jacquesvermeer — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:00:41 +0000

In the international vehicle compliance scene, CITA is the impartial partner committed to enable safe and clean vehicle programs and policies.

Tackle NOx Emissions through the Vehicle Periodic Technical Inspection

Elena Kehl — Wed, 11 May 2022 05:00:01 +0000

The CITA report identifies and evaluates fundamentally feasible methods and procedures for the monitoring of NOx emissions and NOx after-treatment systems as part of a vehicle periodic technical inspection (PTI).

New materials for European roads – transition to lower-energy road maintenance is more urgent than ever

Elena Kehl — Fri, 06 May 2022 05:00:12 +0000

The consequences of the ongoing war in Ukraine add to the existing supply chain issues facing road authorities across Europe. Many of the materials used in the essential maintenance of Europe’s key transport arteries are very energy demanding. It is urgent for European road authorities to reduce their reliance on such materials.

Critical: Renewable fuels still not accounted for in road transport legislation

Elena Kehl — Mon, 02 May 2022 05:00:11 +0000

Increasing shares of renewable and low-carbon energy sources, such as biomethane, is central to the success of transport decarbonisation. A viable, practical regulatory solution to fully recognize their role in the EU’s CO₂ standards is a crediting scheme for renewable fuels.

EU signals end of internal combustion engine by 2035

Sean Goulding Carroll — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 14:48:22 +0000

Sales of new cars and vans that produce carbon emissions will be banned as of 2035, proposals tabled by the European Commission revealed on Wednesday (14 July), a move which all but guarantees that the era of the internal combustion engine (ICE) is drawing to a close in the EU.

Planned EU carbon market reform is ‘politically suicidal’, warns French MEP

Clara Bauer-Babef — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 08:33:51 +0000

Plans to extend the EU's carbon market to transport and buildings would be "politically suicidal" and risk triggering social unrest similar to the 2018 Yellow Vests movement in France, warned French MEP Pascal Canfin last week. EURACTIV France reports.

An ETS for transport and buildings is essential

Kira Taylor — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 11:49:18 +0000

An EU-wide emissions trading system for the transport and building sectors would secure the financing of low carbon solutions and support lower-income households and member states through the redistribution of carbon pricing revenues, argue Matthias Buck and Andreas Graf.

Poor infrastructure stops France from exploiting alternatives to fuel-guzzling cars, trucks

Clara Bauer-Babef — Wed, 26 May 2021 14:28:15 +0000

Although 90% of all goods in France are transported by road compared to the EU average of 75%, more eco-friendly alternatives, like rail and river transport, cannot fully be exploited due to the poor infrastructure currently in place.

EU to launch ‘adjacent’ carbon market for transport, buildings

Sean Goulding Carroll — Thu, 13 May 2021 06:00:41 +0000

A senior EU official on Tuesday (11 May) defended European Commission plans to extend the bloc's carbon market to road transport, arguing that revenues generated could be used to offset the effects of higher fuel prices on the poorest in society.

Daimler, Volvo plan hydrogen fuel cell production in Europe in 2025

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 11:00:05 +0000

Daimler AG's truck unit and Volvo AB said on Thursday they would start making hydrogen fuel cells in Europe in 2025 via a joint venture, and called for EU policies to help make the zero-emission technology commercially viable.

Electrify key highways to accelerate shift to battery-powered trucks: report

Sean Goulding Carroll — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 14:14:56 +0000

A modest investment into charging infrastructure along major European motorways could herald a shift to low-carbon electric road freight over long distances, according to a new report by the green NGO Transport & Environment (T&E).

Electric truck technology close to challenging diesel: study

Sean Goulding Carroll — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 06:00:05 +0000

Electric freight trucks will soon be technologically ready to replace fossil-fuel powered trucks, but the lack of fast-charging infrastructure will hamper uptake, a new study has found.

ETS revision will include buildings and road transport, EU Commissioner says

Kira Taylor — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:40:56 +0000

The European Commission's upcoming June package of energy and climate laws will “propose the extension of the emission trading scheme to sectors such as building and road transport,” the EU's energy commissioner Kadri Simson said on Thursday (25 March).

Policymakers urged to support biofuels to meet transport’s green goals

Sarantis Michalopoulos — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 10:58:19 +0000

Governments around the world need to urgently address this year's 11.6% drop in biofuel output, caused by the pandemic, in order to meet transport’s decarbonisation goals, the head of the renewable energy division at the International Energy Agency (IEA) told EURACTIV in an interview.

Bulgaria to challenge EU mobility package reforms in court

Georgi Gotev — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 06:43:36 +0000

Bulgaria's government said Wednesday (21 October) it would challenge in court parts of a major EU-wide reform agreed earlier this year aimed at improving road hauliers' work conditions.

Bulgaria proposes to take over EU truck cargo, drive it to Turkey

Georgi Gotev — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 16:11:01 +0000

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will propose to EU leaders during their teleconference on Thursday (26 March) that his country would transship goods of trucks from EU countries going to Turkey. The alternative is that EU drivers would wait 14 days before being allowed to enter Turkey.

EU urges members to allow freight despite virus controls

Georgi Gotev — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 14:01:45 +0000

The European Union urged member states Monday (16 March) to prevent bottlenecks forming at internal frontiers and to allow freight through despite reinforced health controls during the coronavirus outbreak.

Road transport in the EU ETS: A high-risk, low-reward strategy

Frédéric Simon — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 08:59:37 +0000

The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is not a good instrument to cut road transport emissions because it will raise petrol prices and fuel popular discontent, as seen in the past with the ‘Gilets Jaunes’ protests, writes William Todts. Road emissions are best addressed with standards, he argues. Late last year, Ursula Von der Leyen announced […]

Commission should ‘pick right battles’, says road transport head

Samuel Morgan — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 06:23:05 +0000

Ursula von der Leyen’s new Commission should look seriously at making sure transport rules are well-tailored to different types of vehicles, while taking advantage of several “low-hanging fruits”, according to road transport association chief Matthias Maedge.

Transport committee chair: The aim is to put climate on political agenda in all sectors

Cécile Barbière — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:43:12 +0000

In an interview with EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'Environnement, the newly elected chair of the European Parliament's committee on transport and tourism (TRAN), French Green MEP Karima Delli, spoke about her new priorities. These include relaunching the rail system, regulating transport in a climate-friendly manner and reducing car pollution.

Austro-German road-charging debacle reignites pan-EU toll debate

Alicia Prager — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 15:28:21 +0000

After the EU Court of Justice ruled against Germany's plans to introduce a highway toll, the debate about an EU-wide motorway toll has once again been ignited. An analysis by Herbert Vytiska.

Is technology about to overcome the ‘too heavy to electrify’ obstacle?

Frédéric Simon — Tue, 07 May 2019 05:49:21 +0000

The scientific literature remains sceptical about trucks becoming battery-operated due to the cost and weight of large battery packs. But that could change soon as costs of battery packs continues to fall, writes Björn Nykvist.

Flurry of agreements to cushion blow of no-deal Brexit

Georgi Gotev — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 07:36:13 +0000

As Britain tries to steer away from a dreaded "no-deal" divorce with the EU, a flurry of agreements are being hammered out to cushion the most painful blows.

European drivers may be wary of cars that stop them from speeding

Dave Keating — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 07:34:19 +0000

Fully automated driving may be years away, but a new EU law being debated by legislators would mandate some semi-autonomous features in new cars, such as intelligent speed assistance. And the auto industry is worried about driver backlash.

Modular or ‘monster’ trucks back on the table

Frédéric Simon — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 05:46:14 +0000

EU lawmakers are floating the idea of offering incentives for extra-long trucks made up of multiple trailers in the EU’s first truck CO2 legislation.

Truck makers push back against EU’s first ever CO2 limits

Frédéric Simon — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 12:38:55 +0000

The European Commission’s proposal to mandate a 15% cut in CO2 emission from trucks by 2025 is overly ambitious, according to industry association ACEA, which said a 7% objective would be more “realistic” given the technologies currently available.

Truck drivers could pay the price for EU compromise on posted workers

Freya Kirk — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 05:18:52 +0000

Two draft laws which will be voted on during the European Parliament's plenary session on Thursday (14 June) could lead to more job insecurity for lorry drivers. EURACTIV.fr reports.

Ambitious agreement on CO2 emission of heavy-duty vehicles

Freya Kirk — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 03:27:18 +0000

Coaches, buses and lorries are responsible for a quarter of CO2 emissions from transport. Soon, manufacturers will have to provide data on CO2 emissions and fuel consumption performance of their new vehicles. EURACTIV’s partner le JDLE reports.

Divisions over proposal to end Eurovignette system

Freya Kirk — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 10:19:57 +0000

The European Parliament could pass a law on the compulsory replacement of the Eurovignette, by a system of tolls, despite the reluctance of Member States. EURACTIV.fr reports

For whom the road tolls?

Frédéric Simon — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:18:17 +0000

The European Commission's proposal to phase-out of car vignettes is fully in line with the treaties and the EU executive has every right to table legislation to that effect, argues Samuel Kenny.

Scientists demand end to crop-based biofuels

Samuel White — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 08:43:42 +0000

A group of 177 Dutch scientist have signed a letter urging the Netherlands to back a complete phase-out of crop-based biofuels at European level, calling them a “false solution to climate problems”.

Think tanker: E-mobility push won’t affect EU oil demand significantly until 2040s

Frédéric Simon — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 06:51:52 +0000

The IEA’s latest World Energy Outlook suggests the EU is set to wean itself off oil even as global consumption continues to rise. EURACTIV.com asked Georg Zachmann, a senior fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, how he sees oil demand in the EU changing in the coming years.

Vestager doles out more truck cartel fines

Samuel Morgan — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 05:31:30 +0000

Swedish truckmaker Scania was hit with an €880 million fine by the EU on Wednesday (27 September) for taking part in a 14-year price fixing cartel, boosting the total fine for the firms involved to a record €3.8 billion.

Cartel probe looms over German car industry

admin — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 14:00:14 +0000

German carmakers faced a brewing scandal Monday (24 July) as suspicions grew they colluded illegally for decades, further damaging the industry's image and exposing it to massive financial risks.

Commission to approve €2.7 billion funding for transport projects

Zoran Radosavljevic — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:04:35 +0000

The Commission proposed on Friday (23 June) to invest €2.7 billion in 152 transport projects ranging from a railway network upgrade in Poland to a road tunnel linking Slovenia and Austria.

How do you put a price on trucks’ impact on society?

Frédéric Simon — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 05:34:00 +0000

Hauliers claim that trucks are overpaying in taxes and charges compared to their impact on the environment and society. But the reality is that road transport is now Europe’s biggest climate problem, writes Samuel Kenny.

EU drafts tougher ‘Dieselgate’ rules to stop cheating

admin — Mon, 29 May 2017 13:45:17 +0000

National ministers moved today (29 May) to crack down on emissions cheating after the Volkswagen "Dieselgate" scandal by giving the European Commission more powers to monitor testing and fine automakers.

Commission plans deal to settle east-west trucker dispute

Catherine Stupp — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:16:52 +0000

The European Commission is planning a compromise between eastern and western EU member countries, which are sharply divided over labour rules for truck drivers who travel across the bloc to deliver goods, according to an internal memo from the executive's transport policy arm.

Pressure mounts on EU to pull the plug on contentious German road toll law

Catherine Stupp — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 05:51:56 +0000

EU transport chief Violeta Bulc has defended the European Commission's move to vouch for a controversial German road toll bill that has spurred blistering critique and threats of a lawsuit from 11 neighbouring countries.

MEPs agree to muscle up Commission after Dieselgate, reject EU road agency

Catherine Stupp — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 15:49:58 +0000

MEPs in the Internal Market Committee voted to give the European Commission more powers to police car manufacturers, but left-wing groups lost their bid to set up a new EU agency tasked with preventing another Dieselgate scandal.

Western member states demand action on low-cost truck drivers

Cécile Barbière — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 13:17:35 +0000

Nine western European countries have called for the introduction of fairer social rules to govern road transport before the sector is opened up to greater liberalisation. This is meant as a warning to Brussels, which is preparing a new set of rules for May. EURACTIV France reports.

Commission to tighten labour rules for truck drivers in May

Catherine Stupp — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 05:32:49 +0000

Truck drivers and trade unions have formed an alliance to demand the European Commission close loopholes that let underpaid workers from poorer EU countries deliver goods anywhere in the bloc.

Four trends that could clean up road transport

Frédéric Simon — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 10:05:01 +0000

The move towards autonomous vehicles, driven by the progressive electrification of transport, and backed up by road pricing schemes, all carry the potential of radically cleaning up Europe's transport system, writes Greg Archer.

Commission mulls MEPs’ call for post-Dieselgate shakeup

Catherine Stupp — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 17:37:06 +0000

The European Commission is considering stripping DG Grow, its internal market unit, of the power to police car emissions after the Dieselgate scandal that erupted in September 2015.

Europe urged to cut all transport emissions to keep climate pledge

James Crisp — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 05:46:37 +0000

Germany’s Öko-Institut warned the EU must cut global warming transport emissions by 94% by 2050 to stop the planet’s temperature rising above the two degree limit agreed by world leaders at the Paris climate summit in December 2015.

Dieselgate-style fraudsters should face prison, says UN boss

James Crisp — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 14:19:17 +0000

Dieselgate-style fraudsters should face tough punishments, including prison sentences, for cheating air pollution rules, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme said today (20 December).

MEPs criticise delays to new rules on car engine emissions

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 16:45:12 +0000

Several EU countries, including Italy, France and Spain, have delayed the adoption of stricter car engine emissions' tests, despite evidence that this has allowed pollution to go above legal limits, a draft report by European Parliament said on Monday (19 December).

Festive EU gives approval to member state projects

Samuel Morgan — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:04:37 +0000

The European Commission was in a giving mood just in time for Christmas today (19 December) as it greenlit a number of member state projects.

Alternative fuels and cleaner transport: From policy to reality

Evan Lamos — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 14:56:31 +0000

With 94% of depending on traditional fuels, the current European transport sector requires up to €1 billion a day and is responsible for a quarter of EU carbon emissions.

Commission takes legal action against seven EU countries over VW scandal

Catherine Stupp — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 13:11:48 +0000

Seven countries have broken EU law for refusing to sanction Volkswagen after it used illegal software to manipulate its vehicles' emissions tests.

Bulc says controversial German deal paves way for EU road toll law

Catherine Stupp — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 06:30:58 +0000

German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Violeta Bulc, the EU transport commissioner, have ended their prolonged fight over a controversial German road toll—provoking anger from neighbours but paving the way for a European-wide road tolling scheme next year.

Britain paves way for electric vehicles, green aviation

Frédéric Simon — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 06:30:28 +0000

British transport is set for a significant low-carbon boost with several new Government consultations and funding schemed announced over the past few days in a bid to drive a green transport overhaul.

Commission wants manufacturers to build more internet-connected cars

Catherine Stupp — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 14:52:39 +0000

The European Commission wants car companies to make sure new models have a slew of digital technologies that can cut fuel use and be safer on roads, as part of an EU strategy on internet-connect vehicles published today (30 November).

Uber gains key support ahead of EU Court hearing

Jorge Valero — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 06:17:42 +0000

A majority of EU governments are expected tomorrow (29 November) to back – at least partly – the ride-hailing firm’s claim of being a digital platform, opening the way for a lighter regulatory oversight of the American-based company than if it was considered like a normal transport firm.

French minister trades blows with MEPs over dieselgate, Renault

Samuel White — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 06:42:58 +0000

Ecology Minister Ségolène Royal travelled to Strasbourg yesterday (24 November) to defend her response to the dieselgate scandal. But the meeting rapidly escalated, with MEPs criticising the minister’s reluctance to punish French automotive champion Renault. EURACTIV France reports.

Bulgaria has the EU’s deadliest roads

Catherine Stupp — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 15:28:18 +0000

Bulgaria, Romania and Latvia had the most road deaths per capita in the EU in 2015, tarnishing the EU's record on vehicle safety in a year when the number of people killed by vehicle crashes rose for the first time in almost twenty years.

Bulc defends plan to overhaul road toll rules

Catherine Stupp — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 17:42:42 +0000

“Let me assure you that we're not after a revolution here,” Violeta Bulc said at a small Brussels conference this week after she outlined her plans to overhaul rules governing transport and shipping on roads.

Vans: Falling through the cracks of Europe’s transport policy

Samuel White — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 05:27:59 +0000

Light commercial vehicles are increasingly being used as a means to dodge social legislation and taxes, writes Samuel Kenny.

Commission: Women drivers are better than men

Catherine Stupp — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 14:43:53 +0000

Women drivers are safer on roads and could help to fix Europe's bad record on vehicle-related deaths, EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc told reporters today (26 October).

Petrol cars allowed to exceed pollution limits by 50% under draft EU laws

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 05:45:07 +0000

New European cars with petrol engines will be allowed to overshoot a limit on toxic particulates emissions by 50% under a draft EU regulation backed by the UK and most other EU states. Our partner The Guardian reports.

EU risks losing competitive edge in low-carbon fuels, warn industry and NGOs

James Crisp — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 04:57:27 +0000

EXCLUSIVE / The European Union risks losing its hard-won advantage on new low-carbon fuels to international competitors such as the US, a group of NGOs, leading companies, and think tanks has warned.

Kathleen Van Brempt, rebel with a cause

Evan Lamos — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 04:57:44 +0000

In the first episode of a new video series called ‘Over a Beer’, EURACTIV's Brian Maguire chats with Kathleen Van Brempt, a Belgian socialist MEP who is chairperson of the 'Dieselgate' inquiry committee in the European parliament.

Surge in electric cars could strain energy grid, warns EU agency

James Crisp — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 04:44:16 +0000

The large scale roll-out of electric cars on EU roads will help fight climate change but more electricity will have to be generated to power the vehicles which, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned, could have its own impact on global warming.

Carmakers fear EU plans to ease data flows will help tech rivals

Catherine Stupp — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 04:44:14 +0000

European car manufacturers are seeking full control over the data sent to them by connected vehicles they put on the road, and fear a move by Brussels that would impose sharing that data with rivals.

EU takes Germany to court over planned road toll

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 12:45:12 +0000

The European Commission referred Germany on Thursday (29 September) to the European Court of Justice over a planned road toll that it says discriminates against foreign drivers.

UNEP: Dieselgate will ‘push the electric revolution very quickly’

Catherine Stupp — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 04:51:56 +0000

The ‘Dieselgate’ scandal will mark an important step towards phasing out the hundred-year-old internal combustion engine which doesn't have a place in a modern, low-carbon transport system, says Ulf Björnholm.

Paris and Berlin hit back against ‘abusive practices’ in the road transport sector

Céline Nguyen — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 09:57:18 +0000

France, Germany and six other European countries have asked the European Commission to examine the consequences of the "abusive practices" and "fierce competition" from certain states in the road transport sector.

Road sector braces for EU bid to cut emissions

Catherine Stupp — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 04:58:39 +0000

After a year of being dogged by the dieselgate scandal, the European road transport sector has started soul searching prompted by new EU plans to reduce carbon emissions.

EU countries want legal change for driverless cars – but they’ll have to wait

Catherine Stupp — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 04:49:55 +0000

Driverless cars have figured into several EU policy plans lately, as politicians have advocated for speeding up work on the technology to stop countries like the United States from having a leg up on European auto manufacturers.

EU’s decarbonisation plans scrutinised by divided transport industry

Catherine Stupp — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 04:51:45 +0000

EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc has to make good on a few promises she made before the summer break.

Where is the ‘road map’ for road transport?

Samuel White — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:13:58 +0000

Trucks produce a quarter of the EU’s transport emissions, yet their environmental performance remains unregulated. We need strict standards and a level the playing field for all modes of transport, writes Karima Delli.

Gerbrandy: Europe’s car industry risks being outfoxed like Nokia

Frédéric Simon — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 04:55:51 +0000

In a few years’ time, people won’t buy a car just to get from A to B. Cars are going to become more like computers. The whole concept of transport will change, predicts Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy.

One year on, Dieselgate is a disturbing warning sign about the EU’s house bank

Samuel White — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 04:55:47 +0000

A year after Volkswagen admitted fiddling its diesel emissions, the European Investment Bank (EIB), whose loans backed the carmaker’s efforts to develop cleaner engines, is still unable to say whether or not public funds were used to rig emissions tests, writes Anna Roggenbuck.

Transport emissions: Progress in the slow lane

Samuel White — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 13:18:26 +0000

I crashed my car the other day: mounted the curb, hit a rock, bent a wheel, rolled noisily to a nearby garage. The experience was a wake-up call. The European Commission's approach to reducing road transport emissions could do with a similar shock, writes Chris Davies.

Parliament paves way for posted workers reform

Cécile Barbière — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 04:57:30 +0000

MEPs yesterday (14 September) adopted a report on the highly controversial subject of social dumping, bringing the EU one step closer to revising the Posting of Workers Directive, despite vigorous opposition in the East. EURACTIV France reports.

Norway minister: ‘Petrol and diesel engines in cars are a thing of the past’

Frédéric Simon — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 04:15:49 +0000

Politicians should be less concerned with protecting the polluting industries of the past and invest instead in the future, said Vidar Helgesen, calling on policymakers to speed up the transition to a green economy with environmental taxation schemes.

James Nix: Brexit could pave the way for EU-wide carbon tax

Frédéric Simon — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 13:58:08 +0000

Originally, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) only came into place because the UK was opposed to using taxation as a policy instrument to reduce global warming. With Brexit, there is now an opportunity to look again at an EU-wide carbon tax, according to James Nix.