European Shipowners (ECSA) have urged the European Commission to make the current maritime EU ETS derogations permanent beyond 2030, arguing that they are essential to maintain connectivity and competitiveness for islands, outermost regions and ice-bound areas.
According to ECSA, shipping carries around 76% of the EU’s external trade and provides vital passenger and freight links to remote regions. The association says the existing derogations should apply automatically, without requiring activation by individual Member States.
Key proposals include:
- Islands: Extend the derogation to all EU islands, including those with more than 200,000 permanent residents and island states, for both passenger and cargo services.
- Ice-classed ships: Make the derogation permanent and align it with FuelEU Maritime provisions, recognising that higher emissions result from safety and navigational requirements in ice conditions rather than commercial decisions.
- Outermost regions: Apply the derogation to all voyages from, to and between the EU’s outermost regions and all Member States.
- Public service obligations: Maintain the existing derogation for transnational public service obligation routes.
ECSA supports retaining the current geographical scope of the EU ETS for shipping, provided that these derogations are made permanent and adapted to reflect operational realities in remote and ice-affected regions.
The proposals have been submitted ahead of the forthcoming review of the EU Emissions Trading System.