Eurofuel Newsletter - March
Dear reader,
Welcome to the latest edition of the Eurofuel newsletter. As 2026 progresses, the EU policy agenda continues to evolve across a range of economic, regulatory and geopolitical priorities.
In Brussels, EU institutions are advancing work on competitiveness, industrial policy and the green and digital transitions, while discussions on trade, economic security and global partnerships remain high on the political agenda.
Several recent developments are particularly relevant for the heating sector and the future regulatory framework for heating technologies in Europe. These developments illustrate the rapidly evolving EU policy landscape affecting the heating sector. From product regulation and climate targets to taxation and energy affordability, the coming months will be crucial for shaping the future policy environment for heating technologies in Europe.
Eurofuel will continue to closely monitor these discussions and engage with EU institutions and stakeholders to ensure that future policies support technology diversity, energy security and a cost-effective pathway to decarbonising heating.
Yours,
Dr Ernst-Moritz Bellingen
President of Eurofuel
Ecodesign review for space and combination heaters
In November 2025, the European Commission launched a consultation on the revision of the Ecodesign Regulation for space and combination heaters together with the associated Energy Labelling framework. The consultation closed on 23 January 2026 and represents a key step in shaping the future regulatory framework for heating appliances in the EU.
Eurofuel welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the process and submitted its response reflecting the collective expertise of the European liquid heating fuels sector. While supporting the EU’s objectives of improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions and accelerating the decarbonisation of buildings, Eurofuel emphasised the importance of technically feasible, proportionate and transparent requirements.
Future rules should enable innovation and investment while avoiding unintended consequences that could prematurely remove proven heating technologies from the market.
EU adopts binding 2040 climate target
Another major policy development concerns the EU’s long-term climate framework. On 5 March, the Council formally adopted amendments to the European Climate Law establishing a binding target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels.
The updated framework introduces several new elements for the post-2030 climate architecture. From 2036 onwards, the EU will allow the limited use of high-quality international carbon credits, capped at 5% of 1990 EU net emissions, meaning that the vast majority of emission reductions will need to be achieved domestically.
The regulation also confirms that the start of the new emissions trading system for buildings and road transport, the EU Emissions Trading System for buildings and road transport (ETS2), will be postponed by one year to 2028.
Energy security and prices remain a key concern
Energy affordability and security continue to dominate discussions in Brussels. On 5 March, the European Commission convened the Energy Union Task Force to assess current energy security conditions and their potential impact on energy prices in Europe.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, participants concluded that no immediate risks to the EU energy supply have emerged. Nevertheless, Member States highlighted ongoing concerns about energy costs and called for further efforts to strengthen domestic clean energy production and to address key components of electricity bills, including taxation.
This approach will help achieve decarbonisation in a cost-effective, equitable, and inclusive manner, embracing a range of technologies.
Eurofuel technical webinars: FAME and HVO
Eurofuel continues to support technical exchange on renewable liquid fuels for heating.
On 4 December 2025, Eurofuel hosted a successful webinar FAME, covering technical performance, storage, standards, and practical experiences in heating applications.
Building on this, a second webinar is planned for late April 2026, focusing on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). The session will explore field trials, latest technical developments, and the potential role of HVO in decarbonising heating.
These webinars provide a platform for dialogue between industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, while sharing practical insights on renewable fuels in modern heating systems.