Brussels, 31 March 2025: FuelsEurope applauds the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) call for the urgent adoption of a comprehensive EU strategy for liquid fuels, aimed at accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable, decarbonised and renewable alternatives.

In its opinion CCMI/234 “A European Liquid Fuels Strategy”, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) stresses that a well- designed EU Strategy for Liquid Fuels is critical to achieving the EU’s climate goals, strengthening energy security and preserving industrial competitiveness. The EESC urges the EU to develop a long-term strategic vision for the industrial transition of liquid fuels – a cornerstone of Europe’s decarbonisation and energy resilience.

Low-carbon and renewable fuels, including both e-fuels and biofuels, are essential across all transport modes, complementary to electrification, especially where the latter remains technically or economically challenging. The cost to society of the decarbonisation of transport can be minimised through the reuse of existing manufacturing and logistic infrastructures: conventional refineries are being converted into biorefineries, while existing pipelines, terminals and distribution systems are compatible with sustainable liquid fuels, reducing the need for additional investments.

FuelsEurope particularly welcomes the EESC’s call  for  a  comprehensive  and  integrated regulatory framework to support the deployment of renewable fuels. Such a framework should address barriers across value chains, from feedstocks (such as sustainable biomass, waste, renewable electricity, and recycled CO2) to the logistics of collection, transportation, and production.

The time to act is now.

In our own More than a Manifesto, we highlight the pressing need for a holistic regulatory framework - one that creates the right conditions to unlock to enable the business case for investments to accelerate and scale up the ongoing low-carbon transition of the EU Refining and Fuels Manufacturing Industry. This isn't just a climate imperative; it's a strategic opportunity to strengthen energy security, bolster defence readiness, support high-quality employment and ensure the affordable decarbonisation of transport and industrial value chain.

We strongly urge the European Commission to heed the EESC’s call and to launch a European Liquid Fuels Strategy or, using the terminology of the Clean Industrial Deal, an “Action Plan” for the competitive transition of the EU Refining and Fuels Manufacturing Industry.