Fit for 55 package

In 2023, the European Union adopted a set of legislative measures known as the Fit for 55 package1. This package translates the EU’s climate ambition into binding law and constitutes the core legislative pillar of the European Green Deal.

The Fit for 55 package aims to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, putting the EU on a pathway towards climate neutrality by 2050. It is designed to achieve these objectives in a fair, cost-effective, and competitive manner, while safeguarding social cohesion and the EU’s industrial base.

Core elements of the Fit for 55 package2:

  • Carbon pricing and market instruments
    • Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)3
    • EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)4
    • Social Climate Fund5
  • Effort sharing and land use
    • Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR)6
    • Regulation on Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)7
  • Energy system transformation
    • Renewable Energy Directive8
    • Energy Efficiency Directive9
    • EU rules to decarbonise gas markets and promote hydrogen10
    • EU Methane Regulation for the energy sector11
  • Transport decarbonisation
    • CO₂ emission standards for cars and vans12
    • Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR)13
    • ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation14
    • FuelEU Maritime Regulation15
  • Buildings
    • Energy Performance of Buildings Directive16

1 Council of the European Union. 2025. Fit for 55. Accessed March 2026. 
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/fit-for-55/

2  Council of the European Union. 2025. Fit for 55. Accessed March 2026. 
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/fit-for-55/

3 https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism_en

4 European Commission. n.d. EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Accessed March 2026. 
https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/carbon-markets/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets_en

5 European Commission. n.d. Social Climate Fund. Accessed March 2026. 
https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/performance-and-reporting/programme-performance-statements/social-climate-fund_en

6 European Union. 2023. Regulation (EU) 2023/857 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030. OJ L 111, 26 April 2023. Accessed March 2026. 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023R0857

7 European Union. 2023. Regulation (EU) 2023/839 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/841 as regards the scope, reporting and compliance rules for land use, land use change and forestry. OJ L 107, 21 April 2023. Accessed March 2026. 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/839/oj

8 European Union. 2023. Directive (EU) 2023/2413 amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001 as regards the promotion of energy from renewable sources. OJ L 241, 31 October 2023. Accessed March 2026. 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023L2413

9 European Union. 2023. Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries, amending Directive 2008/98/EC and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Directive 2006/66/EC. OJ L 191, 28 July 2023. Accessed March 2026. 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:JOL_2023_231_R_0001

10 European Commission. n.d. Hydrogen and decarbonised gas market. Accessed March 2026. 
https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/markets-and-consumers/hydrogen-and-decarbonised-gas-market_en

11 European Union. 2024. Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 on the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen. OJ L, 15 July 2024. Accessed March 2026. 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401787

12 European Union. 2023. Regulation (EU) 2023/851 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards strengthening CO₂ emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles. OJ L 110, 25 April 2023. Accessed March 2026. 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/851/oj

13 European Union. 2023. Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure. OJ L 234, 22 September 2023. Accessed March 2026. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1804/oj/eng

14 European Union. 2023. Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport (ReFuelEU Aviation). OJ L 304, 31 October 2023. Accessed March 2026. 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023R2405

15 European Union. 2023. Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport (FuelEU Maritime). OJ L 234, 22 September 2023. Accessed March 2026. 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023R1805

16 European Union. 2024. Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings. OJ L, 8 May 2024. Accessed March 2026. 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401275