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Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport), 8 June 2026
Main results
Today's discussions underlined our shared commitment to strengthening the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of Europe's transport sector. From adopting conclusions on Europe's ports to exchanging views on the future of transport beyond 2030 and advancing work on clean corporate vehicles, ministers held valuable discussions on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Across all agenda items, there was a clear focus on creating the right conditions for investment, innovation and efficient transport networks, helping to deepen the single market and strengthen connectivity across Europe.
Alexis Vafeades, Minister of transport, communications and works of the Republic of Cyprus
Today’s meeting and approval of the conclusions on the maritime industrial strategy are a significant step forward in recognising the strategic importance and global excellence of Europe's maritime industry. They demonstrate our shared vision and commitment to maintaining a strong, innovative and sustainable maritime sector that drives economic growth, ensures vital connectivity, strengthens our common security and plays a crucial role in our decarbonisation efforts.
Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister of the Republic of Cyprus
Clean corporate vehicles
The presidency presented a progress report on the regulation on clean corporate vehicles. The proposal, part of the automotive package, aims at establishing national targets for the minimum share of zero- and low-emission passenger cars and light-duty vans among new corporate vehicle registrations by large companies in each member state. It also sets out a methodology for calculating compliance with these targets.
Member states broadly supported the objective of decarbonising corporate vehicle fleets and recognised their role in accelerating the uptake of cleaner vehicles and increasing the supply of second-hand zero-emission vehicles. Some member states expressed concerns about issues foreseen in the proposal such as the binding targets. They asked that member states would continue to have enough flexibility when defining the most appropriate incentives or measures to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles by companies. Several member states also expressed concerns of the foreseen binding targets on SMEs and the administrative burden associated with reporting and data collection requirements. A significant number of member states favours incentive-based measures, such as national tax incentives, over mandatory obligations.
Delegations also stressed the importance of ensuring coherence with the wider automotive package, maintaining technological neutrality, and taking account of differences in national circumstances, including infrastructure availability.
Decarbonisation efforts in the transport sector beyond 2030
The Council held an exchange of views on decarbonisation efforts in the transport sector beyond 2030. The debate aimed at addressing the updates of the Union’s legal framework to decarbonise transport, following the recent amendment to the European climate law and adoption of the target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040. The discussion was very timely, given the scheduled reviews in 2026 and 2027 of the alternative fuels infrastructure regulation (AFIR), ReFuel EU aviation regulation and FuelEU maritime regulation.
Member states broadly supported the decarbonisation of the transport sector, whilst simultaneously emphasising the need to maintain competitiveness and avoid carbon leakage. There is a strong desire for a stable and predictable regulatory environment to encourage investment.
Several delegations mentioned the need of scaling up the production and use of sustainable fuels - particularly for aviation and maritime transport - to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Several member states highlighted the need for investment in these fuels.
Many member states see shifting freight and passengers to rail as crucial for reducing emissions, improving connectivity, and alleviating noise and pollution. Modernisation of rail infrastructure and removing obstacles to high-speed rail are considered important drivers for decarbonisation.
Also electrification of road transport (both light and heavy duty vehicles) is seen as a key pathway, but several member states stressed the importance of technological neutrality and supporting alternative fuels, including hydrogen, to avoid dependencies.
The revision of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) was highlighted as important, with calls for a balanced approach to emission trading and decarbonisation. Some member states also called for a realistic review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), taking into account grid capacity and regional constraints.
Finally, several member states noted the importance of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, particularly in light of the current geopolitical situation.
Member states adopted two sets of conclusions, one on the maritime industrial strategy and one on the EU ports strategy.
The maritime industrial strategy is a structured action plan with the aim to strengthen Europe's maritime leadership by advancing high-tech shipbuilding, offshore wind support vessels, underwater drones, and cutting-edge port equipment.
In the conclusions, member states recognise the maritime sector as a cornerstone of Europe's industrial base and stress its essential role in safeguarding supply chains, supporting the clean transition and strengthening the EU's technological leadership. They also acknowledge the diverse national, regional and local characteristics of maritime manufacturing and shipping industries across the Union and the different priorities of member states.
Next, member states also adopted conclusions on the EU ports strategy. The EU ports strategy aims to unify initiatives to strengthen competitiveness, support the energy transition, and ensure security across the 283 seaports and 223 inland ports in the TEN-T network.
The conclusions confirm the vital role ports play in strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy, securing critical supply chains, accelerating the energy transition and maintaining Europe’s global leadership in waterborne transport.
Member states underline the importance of ensuring the efficient and proportionate implementation of the strategy. They invite the European Commission to assess the effectiveness of existing EU-level coordination and governance structures and, where necessary, establish new mechanisms to support implementation.
Under any other business, the presidency and Commission informed minsters on the crisis in the Middle East and the state of play of coordination and response measures in the transport sector, following up on the informal video conference by transport ministers last April.
The presidency also informed ministers on the state of play of current legislative proposals, such as the directive on the maximum authorised dimensions and the maximum authorised weights for certain road vehicles, military mobility, Eurovignette, the roadworthiness package and the regulations on air passenger rights and the enforcement of passenger rights in the EU. The Commission informed ministers on the recently presented passenger package.
The future IE presidency also presented its work programme for the upcoming 6 months.
Other items under any other business, information from:
Belgium on unlocking ERTMS (European rail traffic management system) deployment: stability, simplicity and interoperability first)
Greece on the simplification and acceleration of EU-level railway systems certification and authorisation procedures to speed up ERTMS deployment
the Czech Republic on the competitiveness of the European rail freight transport
Austria on a strategic approach for the European railway industry
Spain on the competitiveness of the railway industry
Austria and the Netherlands on the sixth progress report of the Platform on international rail passenger transport (IRP)
the Commission on the seasonal change of time
the Commission on the clean transport corridor initiative
the Commission on EU large-scale cross-border testbed initiative for autonomous vehicles
Malta on a call to continue discussions on the proposal for a revision of the combined transport directive
the Netherlands on unruly passengers
Lithuania on drone threats to civilian transport infrastructure and operations
France on the publication of the ETS aviation evaluation report by the Commission
