Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport (ReFuelEU Aviation)

Author (Corporate)	Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Series Title	Official Journal of the European Union
Series Details	2023/2405
Publication Date	06/11/2023
Content Type	Blog & Commentary, Legislation, News, Policy-making
	Summary: Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 - adopted by the co-legislators on 18 October 2023 - seeking to ensure a level playing field for sustainable air transport. It also also known as the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative. This is a text with EEA relevance. Further information: This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the uptake and supply of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). It applies to aircraft operators, to airports and managing bodies in the European Union (EU), and to aviation fuel suppliers. It only applies to commercial air transport flights, without prejudice to paragraph 3 of the Act. It seeks to oblige fuel supplier to blend increasing levels of sustainable aviation fuels in jet fuel taken on-board at EU airports, including synthetic low carbon fuels (known as e-fuels). The draft law was unveiled by the European Commission on 14 July 2021, as part of the so-called Fit for 55 legislative package. It followed up on the adoption of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy in 2020, which set out an aim to boost the uptake of SAFs. These fuels were regarded as holding the potential to deliver a major contribution to achieving the increased climate target across the European Union (EU) for 2030 and the EU's climate neutrality objective. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach to the draft law on 22 June 2022, followed by the European Parliament on 7 July. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for this file was reached on 25 April 2023. The final text was endorsed by the Parliament on 13 September, followed by the Council on 9 October. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 18 October 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 6 November 2023. The European Commission published on 8 October 2024 a set of interpretative guidelines on the application of the exemptions referred to in Article 5 of this Regulation.
Source Link	Link to Main Source http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2405/oj
Related Links	Official EUR-LEX: COM(2021)561: Proposal for a Regulation on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2021:561:FIN EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)633: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:633:FIN EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)634: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:634s:FIN European Commission: DG Mobility & Transport: ReFuelEU Aviation https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-modes/air/environment/refueleu-aviation_en European Commission: Public Consultations: Sustainable aviation fuels – ReFuelEU Aviation (2020) https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12303-ReFuelEU-Aviation-Sustainable-Aviation-Fuels_en European Commission: Press Release, 14/07/2021: European Green Deal: Commission proposes transformation of EU economy and society to meet climate ambitions https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3541 European Commission: Questions and Answers - Sustainable transport, infrastructure and fuels (14 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_3525 European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 30/05/2022: ReFuelEU Aviation initiative: Summary of the Commission proposal and the Parliament's draft committee report https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)729457 Council of the European Union: Press Release, 02/06/2022: Fit for 55 package: Council adopts its position on three texts relating to the transport sector https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/02/fit-for-55-package-council-adopts-its-position-on-three-texts-relating-to-the-transport-sector/ European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 14/02/2023: ReFuelEU Aviation initiative: Summary of Parliament's and Council's positions https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)739347 Council of the European Union: Press Release, 25/04/2023: Council and Parliament agree to decarbonise the aviation sector https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/04/25/council-and-parliament-agree-to-decarbonise-the-aviation-sector/ European Parliament: Press Release, 25/04/2023: Fit for 55: Parliament and Council reach deal on greener aviation fuels https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230424IPR82023/ EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 25/04/2023: Taking-off towards decarbonisation of air transport https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/taking-off-towards-decarbonisation-of-air-transport European Commission: Press Release, 26/04/2023: European Green Deal: new law agreed to cut aviation emissions by promoting sustainable aviation fuels https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_2389 Finnish Government: Press Release, 27/04/2023: Provisional agreement in the EU on the use of alternative fuels in aviation, Finland's priority for flexibility included https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-//1410829/provisional-agreement-in-the-eu-on-the-use-of-alternative-fuels-in-aviation-finland-s-priority-for-flexibility-included S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 07/07/2023: S&Ds: With ReFuelEU, the aviation sector will become by 2050 one of the most green ways of transport for EU citizens https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds-refueleu-aviation-sector-will-become-2050-one-most-green-ways-transport-eu-citizens Greens/EFA EP Group: Press Release, 12/09/2023: MEPs to vote on greener flights in new rules for aviation fuels https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/meps-to-vote-on-greener-flights-in-new-rules-for-aviation-fuels Renew Europe EP Group: News, 13/09/2023: ReFuelEU: Renew Europe welcomes ambitious and credible legislation to decarbonise air transport https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2023-09-13/refueleu-renew-europe-welcomes-ambitious-and-credible-legislation-to-decarbonise-air-transport Council of the European Union: Press Release, 09/10/2023: RefuelEU aviation initiative: Council adopts new law to decarbonise the aviation sector https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/10/09/refueleu-aviation-initiative-council-adopts-new-law-to-decarbonise-the-aviation-sector/ European Commission: DG Mobility & Transport: News, 09/10/2023: Final adoption of ReFuelEU Aviation completes ‘Fit for 55' legislation, putting EU on track to exceed 2030 targets https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/final-adoption-refueleu-aviation-completes-fit-55-legislation-putting-eu-track-exceed-2030-targets-2023-10-09_en EUR-LEX: OJ C Series, 09/10/2024: Communication from the Commission – Interpretative guidelines on the application of the exemptions referred to in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport (ReFuelEU Aviation) http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/5997/oj News Euronews, 14/07/2021: EU wants to tax aviation fuel and phase out polluting cars by 2035 https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/14/carbon-tax-alternative-fuels-brussels-unveils-drastic-measures-to-slash-emissions-by-2030 Reuters, 14/07/2021: EU targets airlines in major climate policy shakeup https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/eu-climate-blueprint-pressures-airlines-cut-emissions-2021-07-14/ EurActiv, 16/07/2021: EU green jet fuel proposal shuns crop-based biofuels, focuses on next generation https://www.euractiv.com/section/biofuels/news/eu-green-jet-fuel-proposal-shuns-crop-based-biofuels-focuses-on-next-generation/ Biofuels International, 16/07/2021: Aviation bodies welcome RefuelEU initiative https://biofuels-news.com/news/aviation-bodies-welcome-refueleu-initiative/ Delano, 01/02/2022: Luxembourg co-signs demand for higher sustainable aviation fuels target https://delano.lu/article/lux-co-signs-demand-for-higher EurActiv, 26/04/2023: Deal struck to make sustainable jet fuels mandatory for all EU flights https://www.euractiv.com/section/aviation/news/deal-struck-to-make-sustainable-jet-fuels-mandatory-for-all-eu-flights/ Reuters, 26/04/2023: EU agrees binding green fuel targets for aviation https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/eu-council-european-parliament-reach-provisional-deal-decarbonising-aviation-2023-04-25/ Euronews, 26/04/2023: More sustainable fuels, less 'tankering': How new EU rules aim to cut aviation's enormous emissions https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/04/26/heres-how-the-eu-wants-to-make-your-flight-greener EurActiv, 14/09/2023: Parliament backs law to boost green aviation fuels in EU flights https://www.euractiv.com/section/biofuels/news/parliament-backs-law-to-boost-green-aviation-fuels-in-eu-flights/ Commentary and Analysis European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Sustainable aviation fuels (ReFuelEU Aviation Initiative) (2021/0205(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/0205(COD) European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: ReFuelEU Aviation - Sustainable Aviation Fuels https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-european-green-deal/file-refueleu-aviation Transporrt&Environment: Press Release, 14/07/2021: EU axes airlines’ fuel tax exemption in drive for greener fuels https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/eu-axes-airlines%E2%80%99-fuel-tax-exemption-drive-greener-fuels SkyNRG: News, 15/07/2021: A summary of the proposed Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate https://skynrg.com/news-and-inspiration/expert-opinions/a-summary-of-the-proposed-sustainable-aviation-fuel-mandate/ EurActiv: Links Dossier, September 2021: Sustainable aviation fuels https://www.euractiv.com/section/biofuels/linksdossier/sustainable-aviation-fuels/ Transport & Environment (T&E): Position Paper, November 2021: ReFuelEU Aviation: T&E’s recommendations - An overdue first step to reduce aviation’s climate impact https://www.transportenvironment.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ReFuelEU-position-paper-1.pdf The European Files, 08/12/2021: Aviation Fuels in Europe ReFuel EU Aviation: A route to net zero European aviation https://www.europeanfiles.eu/climate/aviation-fuels-in-europe-refuel-eu-aviation-a-route-to-net-zero-european-aviation European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 10/12/2021: 'Fit for 55' legislative package: ReFuel EU Aviation - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2021)699466 Fuelling Flight initiative, February 2022: Consensus Statement on Fuelling Flight: Response to the ReFuelEU Proposal https://europeanclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/consensus-statement-on-fuelling-flight-feb2022.pdf European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 24/03/2022: Sustainable aviation fuels https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)729333 European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 30/06/2022: RefuelEU Aviation https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)733573 International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT): Briefing, 18/09/2022: Considerations for the ReFuelEU Aviation trilogue https://theicct.org/publication/refueleu-definitions-trilogue-sep22/ Eurocontrol, 17/11/2022: Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in Europe: EUROCONTROL and ECAC cooperate on SAF map https://www.eurocontrol.int/article/sustainable-aviation-fuels-saf-europe-eurocontrol-and-ecac-cooperate-saf-map Transport & Environment, 26/04/2023: EU agrees to world’s largest green fuels mandate for aviation https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/eu-agrees-to-worlds-largest-green-fuels-mandate-for-aviation/ International Air Transport Association (IATA): Press Release, 26/04/2023: Statement on Refuel EU Proposals https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2023-releases/2023-04-26-02/ Airports Council International (ACI Europe): Press Release, 26/04/2023: European aviation industry welcomes EU trilogue agreement on RefuelEU Aviation regulation as an important step towards decarbonisation of the aviation sector https://www.aci-europe.org/press-release/438-european-aviation-industry-welcomes-eu-trilogue-agreement-on-refueleu-aviation-regulation-as-an-important-step-towards-decarbonisation-of-the-aviation-sector.html Airlines for Europe (A4E): Press Release, 26/04/2023: Agreement on ReFuel EU is a step forward in letting SAF flow in Europe https://a4e.eu/publications/agreement-on-refuel-eu-is-a-step-forward-in-letting-saf-flow-in-europe/ Hydrogen Europe: News, 26/04/2023: ReFuelEU Aviation agreement gives H2 key role https://hydrogeneurope.eu/refueleu-aviation-agreement-gives-h2-key-role/ Norton Rose Fulbright: Publications, May 2023: Update on the EU’s latest proposals regarding Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/056fe0dd/what-do-the-eus-latest-proposals-regarding-sustainable-aviation ING Think: Article, 11/05/2023: Climate targets expedite the take-off of sustainable aviation fuels https://think.ing.com/articles/climate-targets-push-the-take-off-of-sustainable-aviation-fuels European Regions Airline Association (ERAA), 08/06/2023: European aviation industry calls for swift adoption of ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation https://www.eraa.org/european-aviation-industry-calls-swift-adoption-refueleu-aviation-regulation European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 30/08/2023: ReFuelEU Aviation initiative: Sustainable aviation fuels and the fit for 55 package https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)698900 European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 06/09/2023: RefuelEU Aviation https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)751437 S&P Global: Commodity Insights, 13/09/2023: EU Parliament adopts new targets set to boost sustainable aviation fuel supply https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/091323-eu-parliament-adopts-new-targets-set-to-boost-sustainable-aviation-fuel-supply European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), 27/09/2023: Refuel EU sets ambitious SAF mandate but opens Book & Claim dilemma for Business aviation https://www.ebaa.org/industry-updates/refuel-eu-sets-ambitious-saf-mandate-but-opens-book-claim-dilemma-for-business-aviation/ PACE Academy, 27/10/2023: A Guide to ReFuel EU initiative for the Aviation Sector https://www.pace-esg.com/academy/a-guide-to-refuel-eu-initiative-for-the-aviation-sector/ Ernst & Young (EY): Tax Alerts, 01/11/2023: EU Council adopts new renewable energy rules and rules for promotion of sustainable aviation fuels under Fit for 55 https://www.ey.com/en_gl/tax-alerts/eu-council-adopts-new-renewable-energy-rules-and-rules-for-promotion-of-sustainable-aviation-fuels-under-fit-for-55 SkyNRG: Blog, 24/11/2023: Disentangling ReFuelEU: How will it shape the SAF market? https://skynrg.com/refueleu-how-it-will-shape-the-saf-market/ Bird&Bird: Insights, 21/02/2024: Why REFuel EU may not work https://www.twobirds.com/en/insights/2024/global/why-refuel-eu-may-not-work Sustainable Aviation Futures (SAF), 25/03/2024: Understanding the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation and Implications for Aviation in the EU https://www.sustainableaviationfutures.com/saf-spotlight/refueleu-aviation-insights-ks BP: News & Views, August 2024: Are you up to speed on the ReFuelEU SAF mandate? https://www.bp.com/en/global/air-bp/news-and-views/air-bp-news/are-you-up-to-speed-on-the-refueleu-saf-mandate.html
Subject Categories	Energy, Environment, Mobility and Transport
Subject Tags	Air Transport, Atmospheric \| Air Pollution, Climate Change, Renewable Energy
Keywords	Bioenergy
International Organisations	European Union [EU]

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