The CEE Green Transport Initiative
A declaration of cooperation
The trend towards the electrification of road transport in Europe is advancing rapidly. EV sales are increasing significantly and picking up overall market share, despite the drop in vehicle sales during the pandemic. Many major OEMs have announced plans to phase out combustion engine vehicles by 2035, and 10 EU member states have called for phasing out ICE vehicles. At the same time, the digital and green post COVID recovery and the EU Green Deal are at the top of the European Union’s policy agenda, with vehicle electrification playing a prominent and essential role. Large parts of Europe are moving swiftly towards the widespread electrification of road transport.
Nonetheless, the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries1 lag behind considerably. Due to lower per capita GDPs, thriving 2nd hand car markets and delayed transport sector reform, CEE countries have unique characteristics and are often overlooked or mischaracterized in European level discussion around e-mobility. Unfortunately, the ambitions for this region are therefore lower, which results in a self-perpetuating cycle of low ambition, low attainment.
However, we, as active players, contributors and developers of the market in CEE, have the best awareness of the situation in our countries. We see high demand for cleaner air, cleaner energy and cleaner transport options which should lead to ambitious development and deployment of e-mobility solutions and zero-emissions transport in our region.
According to the UNFCC, the 2020’s are the critical decade in which to significantly decarbonize road transportation. Failure to do so by 2030 would prevent us from meeting the Paris Agreement targets and stave off the worst effects of the climate crisis. Science tells us clearly that there is no choice but to decarbonize our transport and energy system as quickly as possible. We must meet this moment.
We intend to make our voice and perspective clear at the European level and regionally, to present voices from this region who are champions of the drive towards zero-emission transport and see it as practical and achievablee.
Therefore, it is our shared objective:
To work together to develop and accelerate the growth of a zero-emission road transport network and generate overall support for all zero-emission, electric road transport activities, ventures and initiatives to achieve the cleaner future we know is possible. Moreover, we strive to develop the awareness of the societies in our region about the ongoing and accelerating revolution in transport, strongly related to the climate and the future of the entire planet.
Therein we will:
-
Champion ambitious goals for electric road transport and enabling infrastructure in CEE countries to ensure the region can reduce its emissions quickly to meet the urgency of the climate crisis, and does not continue to lag behind other EU countries.
-
Work on supporting the implementation of State policies related to the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Fit-for-55 package in the field of transport and mobility solutions – addressing the need to develop and deploy zero-emission technologies and exploiting their potential in driving job growth, and local economic development and value creation, Support the development of various financial and subsidy opportunities for the region, in terms of fostering a new transport sector of the economy – relying on zero-emission technologies, as well as awakening the innovative and responsible habits of our societies.
-
Work together on shaping the legislative ground for the successful establishment of green transport in our region – in areas such as the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, the energy performance of buildings and infrastructure, regulations on batteries and battery waste.
-
Cooperate to aggregate data and together standardize the methodologies and expectations for the sustainable transport sectors in all the European Union alike – to build ambitious and attainable goals based on profound knowledge and data exchange.
-
Echo the lessons learned from the region and promote the sharing of best practices among CEE countries that can help with the transformation towards zero-emission mobility.
We plan to develop the initiative in the current decade and reach a common, standardized level of development in our region by 2030 – where our States will not be left behind by the electrification taking place throughout Europe and be able to boast markets characterized by majority shares of low- and zero-emission vehicles in their fleets and a charging infrastructure measured in tenfold or hundredfold orders of magnitude against what is discernible today.
We act together to bring forth a new quality of cooperation, stimulate and establish zero-emission transport as a reality in our region, and make sure our region does its part to meet European climate ambitions and the urgency of this decade.
Appendix to the CEE GTI Statement of cooperation
By calling to action and declaring the messages entailed in the statement of cooperation we hereby acknowledge:
What it is
-
The CEE GTI is a cooperation platform led by the Polish Alternative Fuels Association and the Slovak Electric Vehicle Association.
-
The CEE GTI exists to advance the development of zero-emission road transport in CEE, which herein means the electrification of road transport.
-
We welcome all Parties interested in pursuing the goals manifested by the CEE GTI to sign the statement of cooperation and support our endeavor to achieve the goals stated therein.
How it works
-
Signing the statement of cooperation is not tied to any financial or structural obligations.
-
Signatories to the statement are all expected to support the positions and goals contained therein; signatories will be asked to support (through contributions, statements, use of corporate logo, etc.) further position papers, publications, etc. to achieve these goals, but support for each instance will be done on a case-by-case basis.
-
The primary focus of the CEE GTI will be to address its goals through position papers, analyses, reports, communications, and advocacy activities. These tools will help to influence the legislative process and overall planning perspective at the EU level.
-
The CEE GTI will also strive to be a capacity-building center and knowledge hub within this region.
-
The CEE GTI is not intended to be a means of establishing a competitive position, but a means of synergy – bringing together all interested voices of particular markets to constitute a strong voice of the region in support of the development of zero-emission road transport.
-
PSPA and SEVA will lead the work on the drafting and creating the tools listed above, while all signatory parties will be welcome to inspire, contribute and expound on the work therein.
-
The CEE GTI will work under the non-binding leadership of PSPA and SEVA, while each market will have a dedicated coordinator (representative of a signatory party) to participate in the ongoing work on shaping the assorted tools of the Initiative.
-
The Statement of Cooperation is an expression of adherence to the goals and ambitions of the CEE GTI, each further step will be prone to particular support from each party, and each additional step and action will be submitted to all Parties in pursuit of their support.
