CLECAT calls on Members of the ENVI Committee to support the creation of a separate EU ETS for heating and road transport (ETS II) only if it enables the pursuit of the objectives of the European Green Deal and respects the ‘polluter-pays’ principle.

CLECAT is of the opinion that a solid carbon pricing system is one of the key building blocks of an effective policy framework to support and enable Europe’s transition to carbon neutrality.

Therefore, the ETS II as proposed by the European Commission represents a good step forward in accelerating the switch towards zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, provided that a certain share of the ETS II revenues will return to the sector in the form of subsidy programs for investments in green vehicles and technology.

However, the political developments in the ENVI Committee ahead of the vote on 17 May raise serious concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of the system: Most political groups now agree that the ETS II should apply to commercial operations only from 2025, with a hypothetical inclusion of private road transport from 2029.

CLECAT, together with other organizations, has repeatedly called for the inclusion of all road users, ranging from private cars to commercial freight transport, in the scope of ETS II, in order to set a universal price on CO2 to foster the greening of all vehicles on the road. Excluding private transport from the system would only result in another financial burden for the road freight transport sector, already suffering from extremely high fuel prices, with no proper incentives to decarbonize their activities as all ETS II revenues would be used through the Social Climate Fund or social climate measures.

This also poses a serious operational burden to fuel suppliers, which would be inclined to discriminate heavy-duty vehicles from accessing some fuel pumps, increasing waiting times, hence hindering the smooth continuity of EU logistics.

CLECAT alerts Members of the ENVI Committee to the potential negative consequences on the commercial road freight transport of such amendments to the ETS II proposal and urges them to reconsider their position to finally embrace the polluter-pays principle for all road users and make the ETS II the flagship EU policy instrument to effectively decarbonize road transport.

CLECAT represents the interests of more than 19.000 companies employing in excess of 1.000.000 staff in logistics, freight forwarding, and customs services. Multinational, medium, and small freight forwarders and Customs agents are all within its membership, making the organization the most representative of its kind.

European freight forwarders and Customs agents clear around 95% of all goods in Europe and handle 65% of the cargo transported by road, 95% of the cargo transported by air, and 65% of cargo transported by ship. Freight forwarders also use rail freight, inland waterways, and intermodal transport. They make extensive use of IT systems, dedicated terminals, and warehousing to respond to the needs of their customers.

Cooperation with FIATA

CLECAT works in close cooperation with FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations. Through FIATA, representing freight forwarders and logistic operators worldwide, we are active in numerous international governmental and non-governmental organizations including OECD, UNECE, the International Transport Forum, WTO, and the World Customs Organisation.