Overview of the legal framework of the Green Deal

'Fit for 55'

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'Fit for 55'

The 'Fit for 55' package was first presented by the EU Commission in 2021 to implement the goals of the European Climate Law: Climate neutrality by 2050 and a 55 per cent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The package consists of 13 interlinked proposals to revise existing EU climate and energy legislation as well as six new proposals. The aim is to bring about a fair, competitive and green transition. All proposals, with the exception of the Energy Taxation Directive, have been adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

Objectives:




Overview of suggestions:
Reform of the EU Emissions Trading System
A CO2 market based on fixed emission caps and the trading of emission allowances for energy-intensive industries. It is the EU's most important instrument for reducing emissions.
Climate Social Fund
The aim is to cushion the social and distributional impact of the new emissions trading system for the buildings and road transport sectors. The fund is intended to provide support measures and investments for disadvantaged households, micro-enterprises and transport users.
Emission Reduction Targets of member states
Setting binding targets for the annual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by member states in sectors not covered by the EU ETS or LULUCF.
Regulation on Land Use, Forestry and Agriculture (LULUCF)
This sets out the EU's obligation to reduce emissions and increase removals in the land use and forestry sectors. The new regulations set a higher EU target for the net reduction of greenhouse gases of at least 310 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030. Binding national targets will be set for each member state.
EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
The CBAM wants to ensure that the EU's efforts to reduce emissions are not cancelled out by increasing emissions outside its borders by shifting production to non-EU countries (where climate protection measures are less ambitious than in the EU) or by importing more CO₂-intensive products.
Renewable Energy Directive
The current EU target of ‘at least 32%’ for the share of energy from renewable sources in the overall energy mix is to be increased to at least 40% by 2030 with the help of this directive. Particular emphasis will be placed on the transport, buildings and industry sectors.
Energy Efficiency Directive
The revised EU Energy Efficiency Directive will reduce final energy consumption at EU level by 11.7% by 2030 compared to the projections from 2020. The objectives are to drive forward the energy efficiency efforts of the member states by increasing the annual energy saving obligations and reducing the energy consumption of public buildings.
Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation
Sufficient access for citizens and companies to a charging and refuelling infrastructure network for road vehicles and ships powered by alternative fuels is to be guaranteed.
Regulation on „ReFuelEU Aviation“
Sustainable aviation fuels can significantly reduce aircraft emissions, but these fuels only account for 0.05% of total aviation fuel consumption. The ‘ReFuelEU Aviation’ proposal was launched so that the aviation sector can make its contribution to achieving the EU's climate targets.
Regulation on „ReFuelEU Maritime“
Maritime transport also continues to rely almost exclusively on fossil fuels. The aim of the ‘FuelEU Maritime’ initiative is to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy consumed on board ships by up to 80 % by 2050.
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
As buildings account for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of energy-related direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, the directive has been revised to make buildings more energy efficient by 2030.
Updated EU Regulations on the Decarbonisation of Gas Markets and the Promotion of Hydrogen
The aim of the hydrogen market package is to move from natural gas to renewable and low-carbon gases and promote their uptake. The package includes a regulation and a directive. The two proposals aim to create common rules for the internal market for renewable gases, natural gas and hydrogen.
EU Methane Regulation for the Energy Sector
Methane emissions are to be tracked and reduced in the energy sector; methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after CO2.



 	

    

        
            

                

                    

                        
                        
                    

                

            

        
    








Further information:

[EUR-Lex] Fit for 55
'Fit for 55' – The EU Green Transition Plan - Consilium (europa.eu)