The 27 gave their formal approval on Monday to the political agreement reached in January between EU institutions to reduce CO2 emissions from heavy-duty transport, including the target of reducing emissions from trucks and buses by 90 per cent by 2040.
This concludes the process for the final adoption of the new European Union rules.
The reform consolidates the path proposed by the European Commission with intermediate reduction targets of 45 per cent during 2030-2034 and 65 per cent during 2035-2039, reaching 90 per cent by 2040 – compared to 2019 levels.
These targets will apply to heavy-duty trucks over 7.5 tonnes and coaches, a sector responsible for over 25 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from road transport in the EU.
However, an exemption from the CO2 reduction targets set in the regulation will apply to small manufacturers and vehicles used in mining, forestry, and agriculture; vehicles for use by the armed forces and fire services, or those used for civil protection, law enforcement, and healthcare.
The review also extends the scope of the regulation to professional units such as refuse trucks or concrete mixers at a later stage (2035).
The Commission will explore the possibility of including smaller trucks, under five tonnes, within the scope.
Additionally, it introduces a 100 per cent zero-emission target for urban buses and sets an interim target of 90 per cent by 2030.
However, co-legislators agreed to exempt intercity buses from this goal and place them within the framework of general objectives for coaches.
The effectiveness and impact of the amended regulation on the targets will be reviewed by the European Commission in 2027, when Brussels will have to include an assessment of the role of a carbon correction factor (CCF) in the transition to emissions-free mobility in the heavy-duty vehicle sector.
