About
The Fit for 55 package is a set of proposals to revise and update EU legislation and to put in place new initiatives to ensure that relevant laws are aligned with the climate goals set by the European Council and the European Parliament.
Below we have summarized some of the most important sets of legislation and initiatives, based on the European Green Deal and Fit for 55 package. We have also provided our comments as to when the regulations was formally adopted.
Revision of existing legislation
- Revision of the EU Emission Trading Scheme to reduce the overall emissions cap per economic sector, phase out free emission allowances for certain sectors, including emissions from maritime transport from 2024 onwards and extending the EU ETS to cover methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxides (N₂O) emissions from 2026: The Council formally adopted the revisions of the EU ETS 25 April 2023.
- Revision of the Effort Sharing Regulation on EU member states' reduction targets in sectors outside the EU Emission Trading Scheme: The Council formally adopted the revised regulation 28 March 2023.
- Revision of Regulation on Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF). The revision sets an overall more ambitious EU target for reducing emissions and increase removals in the land use and forestry sectors: The Council formally adopted the revised regulation 28 March 2023.
- Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, setting a new 2030 target of 42,5%, with an additional indicative 2,5% top-up to reach a target of 45% (up from 32%) energy use from renewables by 2030, and strengthening bioenergy sustainability criteria: The Council formally adopted the new rules 9 October 2023.
- Revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive to reduce final energy consumption at EU level by 11.7% in 2030 compared to projections made in 2020: The Council formally adopted the revised directive 25 July 2023.
- Revision of the Directive on the Deployment of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure to require aircraft and ships to have access to clean supply in major ports and airports: The Council formally adopted the directive 25 July 2023.
- Amendments to the Regulation setting CO2 emission standards for cars and vans to require average emissions of new cars to come down by 55% from 2021 to 2030 and net-zero by 2035: The Council formally adopted the regulation 28 March 2023.
- Revision of the Energy Taxation Directive to align taxation of energy products with climate policies and promote clean technologies: The proposal is currently under review and is being worked on both in the Council and the European Parliament.
- Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in order to achieve a zero-emission and fully decarbonised building stock by 2050: The Council formally adopted the revised directive 12 April 2024.
- Adoption of a regulation and a directive establishing common internal market rules for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen and reforming the existing EU gas legislation: The Council formally adopted the directive and regulation 21 May 2024.
- Adoption of the ecodesign regulation, which sets requirements for sustainable products. The regulation replaces the existing ecodesign directive and enlarges its scope, beyond energy products, to all kind of goods placed in the EU market: The Council formally adopted the regulation 27 May 2024.
Proposal for new initiatives
- A Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Shall place a carbon price on imports to prevent the relocation of production to countries which apply less rigorous prevention of climate change legislation than the EU, and to prevent EU companies from being undercut by energy-intensive competitors outside the EU: The Council formally adopted the new regulation 25 April 2023.
- The Net-zero Industry Act. Establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe's net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem: The Council formally adopted the new regulation 27 May 2024.
- A nature restoration law. This law aims to put measures in place to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050: The Council formally adopted the new regulation 17 June 2024.
- Right-to-repair directive (R2R). The legislation will make it easier for consumers to seek repair instead of replacement and repair services will become more accessible, transparent and attractive: The Council formally adopted the new regulation 30 May 2024.
- Corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD). The directive introduces obligations for lager companies regarding adverse impacts of their activities on human rights and environmental protection: The Council formally adopted the new directive 24 May 2024.
- ReFuelEU Aviation. Sets requirements for aviation fuel suppliers to gradually increase the share of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) blended into the conventional aviation fuel supplied at EU airports: The Council formally adopted the new regulation 9 October 2023.
- FuelEU Maritime. Promotes the use of renewable, low-carbon fuels and clean energy technologies for ships: The Council formally adopted the new regulation 25 July 2023.
- Social Climate Fund. Member States may use the SCF to support structural measures and investments in energy efficiency and renovation of buildings, clean heating and cooling and integration of renewable energy, as well as in zero- and low-emission mobility solutions: The Council formally adopted the new regulation 25 April 2023.
Who does it impact?
The EU member states and a large number of stakeholders within various industries.
Status: In progress
The European Commission presented the first package on 14 July 2021. A second package was presented on 15 December 2021. Most proposals have now been adopted and entered into force after publication in the Official Journal.
Relation to other initiatives and regulations
The Fit for 55 package is part of the European Green Deal and the EU's commitment to combat climate change under the Paris Agreement. The EU has set itself a binding target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and an intermediate target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions with at least 55% by 2030 according to the European Climate Law.
The Clean Industrial Deal can be regarded as a kind of further development of the Green Deal, where the ambitious climate policies of recent years serve as the foundation, but where the focus is now on what measures can be implemented to strengthen the industry's competitive advantage, in addition to facilitating conditions for Europe to succeed in achieving a leading market position within new, green technologies.
Participants
- The EU member states.
- The regulations and initiatives may also be relevant for the EEA countries and various stakeholders.
Thommessen's comments
climate change under the Paris Agreement, the EU has set itself a binding target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. In order to achieve its ambition the EU has committed to cutting net greenhouse gas emissions with at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, according to the European Climate Law.
The first series of proposals under the Fit for 55 package were presented by the European Commission on 14 July 2021. The aim was to bring the EU's climate and energy legislation in line with the 2030 goal. The proposals include revisions of existing legislation as well as the introduction of new measures, intended to transform climate goals into concrete action. On 15 December 2021, the second part of the package was presented, focusing on gas and buildings. Some of the proposals are still subject to discussions and negotiations between the relevant EU institutions, across several policy areas. During 2023, provisional political agreements on certain of the proposals were agreed by the European Council and the European Parliament, and most proposals have now entered into force. Featured initiatives under the European Green Deal is the REPowerEU and the Green Deal Industrial Plan.