BRUSSELS — The European Commission is softening its own aviation fuel rules by reassuring companies they won’t face painful fines even if they miss upcoming clean fuel targets.
Eddy Liegeois, head of the aviation policy unit in the Commission’s transport department, provided the assurance during a Feb. 26 meeting with industry representatives in the Commission’s Charlemagne Building, according to four attendees who all spoke to POLITICO on condition of being granted anonymity.
The Commission confirmed it won’t seek penalties for failing to supply enough synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) in a reply sent to POLITICO on Thursday.
“The European Commission will not fine fuel suppliers even if they do not comply with the mandate,” the Commission said in a statement referring to what Liegeois had told the industry. “The question of penalties is not something that we need to discuss now, it is just speculative of what will happen or not in terms of supply of e-SAF. What is important at this point in time, is to take all measures possible to support the uptake of production.”
