English Version :
Under the proposed Fit-for-55 package, different sectors have to contribute to reducing emissions and decarbonising our economies
During a meeting of EU environment ministers which lasted close to 17 hours, Malta fought long and hard to achieve a better deal under the Fit-for-55 package.
On Tuesday, EU environment ministers met in Luxembourg to reach a general approach on proposals that are part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package. These proposals are related to the reduction of emissions from the maritime sector, the aviation sector, road transport and buildings, carbon sinks, effort sharing amongst member states, CO2 emission performance standards for cars and vans and a social climate fund.
The Fit-for-55 refers to the EU’s target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. This means that different sectors have to contribute to this emission reduction.
“Malta managed to negotiate a good funding package that can help the country move towards a decarbonised economy. We want to deliver on our ambition. At the same time, we managed to ensure more protection to very important sectors to the Maltese economy such as maritime, aviation and road transport”, stated Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli.
Malta managed to negotiate more funding from an increased share of allowances under the maritime legislation. Furthermore, on Malta’s insistence the money from these allowances will now help decarbonise not only the maritime sector but also road transport including public transport.
Being a peripheral island member state, Malta negotiated hard to include further protection for the aviation sector. This resulted in legal provisions that alleviate the impact of flight costs on peripheral Member States. In essence, this means that Malta ensured that the difference between kerosene and sustainable fuel prices for airlines would be covered.
This means Malta obtained a better result than what was being proposed, where the allocation was minimal.
Whilst expressing satisfaction over the results achieved, Minister Miriam Dalli highlighted that Malta will continue pushing for more at the trialogue stage, where the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council negotiate together to reach a compromise.
“We will continue working hard to ensure that the realities of all the different member states are taken into account, particularly when it comes to the road transport sector where currently Malta has very limited alternatives. We will also continue working to increase the share of Zero Emission Vehicles on our islands”, said Miriam Dalli.
In this regard, Malta endorsed the General Approach on the proposed revision to the CO2 standards for Cars and Vans legislation, despite a delayed ICE cut-off date to 2035. Minister Dalli explained that a more ambitious date would have meant a swifter infiltration of cleaner vehicles onto Malta’s market.
“In turn, this would have ensured supply and affordability in terms of helping citizens shift to cheaper electric vehicles sooner rather than later”, said the minister.
Maltese Version :
Malta tinnegozja ftehim aħjar taħt il-pakkett tal-proposti FIT-for-55
Bil-pakkett leġiżlattiv li qed jiġi propost mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea, setturi differenti jridu jikkontribwixxu fit-tnaqqis tal-emissjonijiet u d-dekarbonizzazzjoni tal-ekonomiji
Malta rnexxielha tinnegozja ftehim aktar b’saħħtu waqt laqgħa tal-Kunsill tal-Ambjent li tlaqqa’ lbieraħ f’Lussemburgu biex jiddiskuti elementi leġiżlattivi tal-pakkett ‘Fit-for-55’.
Fil-laqgħa tal-ministri Ewropej li damet madwar 17-il siegħa, Malta ddefendiet bis-sħiħ il-pożizzjoni tagħha biex tikseb ftehim aħjar minn dak li kien qed jiġi oriġinarjament propost.
Il-‘Fit-for-55’ huwa pakkett leġiżlattiv li jistabbilixxi l-miri tal-Unjoni Ewropea biex jitnaqqsu l-emissjonijiet tal- gassijiet serra sa mill-inqas 55% sal-2030. Dan ifisser li diversi setturi jridu jikkontribwixxu biex jitnaqqsu l- emissjonijiet.
Il-pakkett leġiżlattiv huwa wiesa’ u l-proposti diskussa huma relatati mat-tnaqqis tal-emissjonijiet mis-setturi tal- marittimu, tal-avjazzjoni, tat-transport, infrastruttura, carbon sinks, effort sharing bejn l-istati membri, l- istandards tal-emissjonijiet tas-CO2 għall-karozzi u għall-vannijiet, u l-Fond għall-Klima Soċjali.
“Irnexxielna ninnegozjaw pakkett finanzjarju b’saħħtu li se jgħin lil pajjiżna jimxi aktar lejn ekonomija li ma tħammiġx. Irridu nilħqu l-miri ambizzjużi tagħna. Fl-istess ħin irnexxielna nassiguraw li nissalvagwardjaw setturi importanti għall-ekonomija ta’ pajjiżna bħas-settur marittimu, tal-avjazzjoni u tat-trasport,” qalet il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Eneriġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli.
Malta ġabet aktar fondi minn żieda fl-allokazzjoni taħt il-leġiżlazzjoni marittima. Barra minn hekk, fuq l- insistenza ta’ Malta, dawn il-fondi mhux biss se jgħinu d-dekarbonizzazzjoni tas-settur marittimu iżda jistgħu jintużaw għat-trasport fuq l-art, inkluż it-trasport pubbliku.
Bħala gżira membru stat fil-periferija tal-UE, Malta nnegozjat b’suċċess biex is-settur tal-avjazzjoni jkun protett minn xokkijiet eventwali. Għalhekk ġew inklużi proviżjonijiet legali bil-għan li jtaffu l-impatt tal-ispejjeż ta’ tali titjiriet. Dan ifisser li Malta assigurat li d-differenza fil-prezz bejn il-kerosene u fjuwil sostenibbli għal-linji tal- ajru tkun koperta.
Dan ifisser li, mingħajr ma xekkilna l-ambizzjoni, Malta rnexxielha tikseb riżultati aħjar minn dak li kien qed jiġi propost fejn l-allokazzjoni kienet minima.
Filwaqt li l-Ministru Miriam Dalli esprimiet sodisfazzjon għar-riżultati miksuba, saħqet li Malta se tkompli timbotta l-pożizzjoni tagħha waqt in-negozjati li jmiss biex jintlaħaq qbil bejn il-Kummissjoni Ewropea, il- Parlament Ewropew u l-Kunsill Ewropew.
“Se nkomplu naħdmu ħafna biex nassiguraw li r-realtajiet tal-istati membri differenti kollha jiġu kkunsidrati, partikolarment fejn jidħol is-settur tat-trasport fuq l-art, fejn bħalissa Malta għandha alternattivi limitati ħafna. Se nkomplu naħdmu wkoll biex jiżdied l-użu tal-vetturi li ma jniġġsux,” qalet Miriam Dalli.
Malta approvat ir-reviżjoni proposta tal-leġiżlazzjoni dwar l-istandards tal-emissjonijiet CO2 mill-karozzi u mill- vannijiet, minkejja li l-cut-off date għall-importazzjoni ta’ karozzi b’internal combustion engine (ICE) qed tiġi proposta għall-2035. Il-Ministru Dalli spjegat li data aktar ambizzjuża kienet tgħin aktar l-infiltrazzjoni ta’ vetturi li ma jħammġux fis-suq Malti.
“Dan kien jiżgura l-provvista u l-affordabbiltà sabiex ngħinu liċ-ċittadini jaqilbu għal vetturi elettriċi orħos aktar kmieni”, spjegat il-Ministru Dalli.