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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2026)0616 – C100188/2026 – 2026/0212(COD))

On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 as regards driving competitiveness and cost-effective decarbonisation

TRAN-PA-796151

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Matteo Ricci

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The Committee on Transport and Tourism's draft opinion responds to the Commission's proposal to amend the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for aviation and maritime transport. It backs the carbon price and 2040 ambition but adds rules to return auctioning revenues to the two sectors. It raises the share of revenues Member States must spend on decarbonising ETS sectors from 50% to 75%, and requires at least 70% of maritime and aviation auctioning revenues to go back to those sectors separately. It increases allowances reserved for sustainable aviation fuels and for the maritime SMAP mechanism to 200 million each, opens the Innovation Fund and Industrial Decarbonisation Bank to transport, and sets a 15% Innovation Fund share for maritime and aviation projects. It links the post-2032 scope for aviation to CORSIA meeting conditions, adds a maritime carbon leakage monitoring mechanism, and replaces derogations for islands, outermost regions and ice-class ships with gradual phase-ins to 2040.

Committee position. The rapporteur supports the Commission proposal's architecture and 2040 ambition but proposes amendments in three blocks: financing the transition, the international dimension, and a level playing field and connectivity. The amendments turn the carbon price into investment certainty for aviation and maritime decarbonisation.

Key points

  1. The opinion supports the Commission proposal's architecture and 2040 ambition, confirming the carbon price and the scope of the system for aviation and maritime transport.
  2. Member States must use at least 75% of auctioning revenues for decarbonising ETS sectors, up from 50%, with modal shift to rail added as a priority purpose.
  3. Member States must allocate at least 70% of maritime and aviation auctioning revenues, calculated separately, to decarbonising those sectors, with an annual Commission scoreboard.
  4. Allowances reserved for sustainable aviation fuels rise to a further maximum of 200 million until 2040, on top of 20 million until 2030, linked to the carbon price paid.
  5. The SMAP mechanism for maritime transport rises from 110 to 200 million allowances, with priority for Union-produced fuels, wind propulsion and electrification, and at least 20% reserved for small operators, short-sea shipping, ferries and island connections.
  6. At least 15% of the Innovation Fund is dedicated to first-of-a-kind and demonstration projects in maritime transport and aviation, with dedicated bidding windows.
  7. Up to 90 million allowances from each of the aviation and maritime reserves may be transferred to the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank for synthetic fuel production, with no double financing and Union database tracking.
  8. The opinion calls on the Union and Member States to pursue a global solution in ICAO and IMO and through bilateral agreements, with Union action as a benchmark.
  9. For aviation after 2032, the derogation for flights to and from third countries continues only if the Commission establishes by 30 June 2032 that CORSIA meets all the Directive's criteria; otherwise the general Annex I rule applies.
  10. An annual maritime carbon leakage monitoring mechanism tracks port market shares, reflagging, freight rates and vessel sizes, with the Commission to act within nine months of a sustained deviation.
  11. The reduction of the surrender obligation for long-distance containership voyages is linked to voyage distance, with percentages from 45% down to 15% depending on nautical miles.
  12. Derogations for outermost regions, small islands and public service obligations are replaced by a gradual phase-in of the surrender obligation from 2034 to 2040, and the ice-class derogation phases out until 2039.

Who is affected

  • Aircraft operators: eligible for allowances for sustainable aviation fuels, with support covering the price differential, including full coverage at island and outermost region airports.
  • Shipping companies: eligible for SMAP support for sustainable fuels and zero-emission propulsion, with at least 20% reserved for small and medium-sized companies, short-sea shipping and ferries.
  • Member States: must spend at least 75% of auctioning revenues on ETS decarbonisation and at least 70% of maritime and aviation revenues on those sectors.
  • Islands, outermost regions and ice-class ship operators: get gradual phase-ins of the surrender obligation instead of derogations ending in 2030.
  • Union ports and airports: benefit from dedicated Innovation Fund bidding windows and monitoring of connectivity and carbon leakage.

Figures and deadlines

  • 50% to 75%: the share of auctioning revenues Member States must use for decarbonising ETS sectors.
  • 70%: the minimum share of maritime and aviation auctioning revenues Member States must allocate to those sectors, applied separately.
  • 110 million to 200 million: the increase in allowances reserved for sustainable aviation fuels until 2040, in addition to 20 million until 2030.
  • 110 to 200 million: the increase in allowances reserved for the maritime SMAP mechanism.
  • At least 20%: the share of SMAP resources reserved for small and medium-sized shipping companies, short-sea shipping, ferries and island connections.
  • At least 15%: the share of Innovation Fund allowances dedicated to first-of-a-kind and demonstration projects in maritime transport and aviation.
  • Up to 90 million allowances: the amount that may be transferred from each of the aviation and maritime reserves to the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank.
  • 30 June 2032: the deadline for the Commission to establish whether CORSIA meets all the Directive's criteria.