ESC Sustainability Newsletter No. 26

17 April - 21 April 2023

Preface

ESC’ weekly Sustainability Newsletter contains a selection of the week’s most relevant information, webinars, and events in the sustainability field. It will typically be published at the end of the week. Any upcoming important developments will be announced within our regular news posts.

The newsletter provides an information update (news, press releases, regulations, and reports) as well as an overview of past and upcoming events (conferences, workshops, meetings). An overview of previous sustainability newsletters can be found here.

Information update

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14 April 2023
News
EUR-Lex

Invitation for comments on a potential state aid measure for Fret SNCF (rail freight operator) in France: The Official Journal of the European Union (OJ) has published an invitation to submit comments pursuant to Article 108(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union regarding a potential state aid measure for Fret SNCF. Interested parties may submit their comments on the measures in respect of which the Commission is initiating the procedure within one month of the date of publication of this summary (see link on the left). The comments will be communicated to France.

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18 April 2023
Vote
European Parliament
Report

Vote on regulation 2021/0211B(COD) dealing with "Monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport":  The vote was scheduled for Tuesday in the European Parliament. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) has drafted a report (see left side) which will be the basis for a debate in Parliament on 17 April 2023 and a vote on 18 April 2023. The regulation was adopted by 500 votes to 131 and 11 abstentions. More detailed information about the EU plans to cut emissions can be found here.

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18 April 2023
Vote
European Parliament
EP News

Vote on directive 2021/0207(COD) dealing with "Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for aviation": This vote was also scheduled for Tuesday in the European Parliament. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) has agreed to a text in 1st reading of interinstitutional negotiations. A debate in Parliament is scheduled for 17 April 2023 and a vote for 18 April 2023. The Parliament has adopted the reform with 413 votes in favour to 167 against and 57 abstentions.

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18 April 2023
Press release
EBU & ESC

Press release by ESC and EBU on the free movement of goods after the long-lasting strikes in France: ESC, the European Shippers Council, representing the interests of cargo owners in Europe, and EBU, the European Barge Union, representing barge owners and operators in Europe, have published a press release regarding the free movement of goods after the long-lasting strikes in France. Background is that since the beginning of the strikes in France Inland waterway transport (IWT) is targeted and restricted in its free movement both on the river Rhine and the French waterways. Due to this still lasting situation, the barge owners and operators sailing on these waterways face blockades at locks with serious consequences in terms of delays and additional costs. EBU and ESC have therefore addressed the European Commission to call upon France for taking actions to end the infringement of the free movement of goods.

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18 April 2023
Market report
IWT platform
CCNR report

CCNR together with EC published their latest Market Insight Report on European Inland Navigation: The report focusses on three aspects (1. freight and passenger transport on inland waterways, 2. Operating conditions, and 3. Focus on Italy) . From the sustainability perspective, the second chapter on operating conditions highlights that oil prices early 2022 have reached their highest level since 2006, and that the low water period in summer 2022 has triggered average loading degree of inland vessels on the Upper Rhine to drop by 45%.

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19 April 2023
Press release
European Parliament

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are ready to start talks with the Council on trans-European transport network rules: The draft rules guide major EU transport infrastructure project towards sustainable transport, cut implementation delays and set EU transport links with Ukraine and Moldova. The Parliament set its negotiating position on the review of trans-European transport network (TEN-T) rules. This is the EU’s plan to build a network of railways, roads, inland waterways and short sea shipping routes connected through ports and terminals across the European Union.

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19 April 2023
Press release
European Commission
Directive 2019/1161

EC refers Bulgaria to the Court of Justice for failing to act on Directive (EU) 2019/1161: The European Commission decided to refer Bulgaria to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose in its national legislation EU rules setting minimum national targets for the public procurement of clean vehicles.  In the case of Bulgaria, the Directive requires at least 17.6% of all light-duty vehicles, 7% of all trucks and 34% of all urban buses procured between 2 August 2021 and 31 December 2025 to be clean vehicles, and at least 17% of all urban buses procured in the same period to have zero emissions at tailpipe. The deadline for transposition of the Directive was 2 August 2021.

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21 April 2023
Meeting
Website
Dods

Meeting of the "Working Party on Transport - Intermodal Questions and Networks": The working party meets today, agenda items include high-level agreement between the EU and Western Balkan countries for the adaptation of indicative maps within the meaning of Article 49(6) of Regulation No 1315/2013 (the TEN-T Regulation), and Association of Ukraine and Moldova to the CEF programme.

Events & Webinars

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17 April 2023
Conference
TRA2024
Abstracts

Extension of deadline to submit abstracts for TRA2024:  The next Transport Research Arena (TRA) conference takes place in Dublin, Ireland from the 15th – 18th of April. TRA is the foremost European transport event that covers all transport modes and all aspects of mobility. TRA2024 is inviting all people working in transport and mobility research to contribute, and is designing a flexible programme that will allow all stakeholders to be heard. The link to submitting an abstract can be found on the left.

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17 April 2023
Meeting
EU
Dods

Invitation to join the 'DG Trade - Joint EU-U.S. Stakeholder Event - Transatlantic cooperation on digital initiatives to facilitate trade': The event will be held on 4th May 2023, the invitation to join this online meeting has now been published (see links on the left). The representatives from the EU and the U.S. can be joined for an online stakeholder meeting to discuss possible transatlantic cooperation on digital initiatives to enhance trade.

Upcoming events

Research & Innovation for a competitive green transition

Jun 23, 2025 12:00 am

Taking place as a satellite event of the European Research and Innovation (R&I) Days 2025, the conference "R&I for a Competitive Green Transition" will showcase tangible solutions for Europe’s green ...

Building a sustainable and competitive battery raw materials industry in Europe – How can it be achieved?

Jun 26, 2025 12:30 pm

In its 2019 Green Deal, the EU emphasised the importance of domestic electric vehicle (EV) battery production to achieve the energy transition while fostering a competitive and sustainable battery value ...

Europe’s Bioeconomy Strategy – What are the key opportunities and challenges?

Jun 26, 2025 05:30 pm

Europe’s bioeconomy transforms renewable resources—such as agricultural products, forests, seas, residues, and waste—into food, feed, materials, and energy.

The European Commission is preparing a new Bioeconomy Strategy, set for adoption ...

European Research & Innovation Days 2025

Sep 16, 2025 12:00 am

The European Research & Innovation (R&I) Days 2025 will take place on 16–17 September 2025 at The Square in Brussels. The sixth edition of this flagship event of the European ...

Project Cargo Summit 2025: Beyond MPP!

Sep 17, 2025 12:00 am

The global project cargo industry is changing, volatility is increasing, causing a shift away from traditional multipurpose vessels (MPPs). Now the industry is turning to smart alternatives, from container carriers ...

Transport & Logistics Antwerp 2025

Oct 14, 2025 12:00 am

Discover the largest event in the transport and logistics industry, featuring 300 exhibitors, 75 speakers, and 3 days of seminars. Experience innovative pavilions, demo zones, and networking opportunities. Explore the ...

More events? Please find a complete list of upcoming events here (you need to be logged in as a member to see this).