A coalition of 21 industry stakeholders has published a joint statement urging the European Commission to adopt a phased and flexible approach to regulating CO2 transport infrastructure across the EU.
The group said the development of a clear regulatory framework will be critical for scaling carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and achieving the EU’s climate goals. However, it warned that the European CO2 transport market is still at an early stage, with limited infrastructure in operation and many projects facing regulatory, financial and coordination challenges.
According to the statement, policymakers should prioritize enabling investment and supporting first-mover projects rather than introducing overly strict regulations too early.
The signatories stressed that premature or highly prescriptive rules could delay projects, reduce flexibility for developers and undermine investor confidence.
The industry groups called for a regulatory framework that evolves alongside the market, allowing Member States flexibility during early deployment phases while gradually introducing more structured rules as the sector matures.
Among the key recommendations were streamlining permitting processes, improving cross-border coordination, supporting industrial cluster development and deploying targeted funding and de-risking mechanisms for CO2 infrastructure projects.
The statement also highlighted the importance of coordinating the full CCUS value chain, including carbon capture, transport, storage and utilization.
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It called for support for regional CO2 transport corridors, cross-border infrastructure development and equal treatment of different transport methods, including pipelines and non-pipeline solutions.
On market regulation, the coalition argued against introducing EU-wide tariff methodologies or rigid third-party access rules at this stage. Instead, it recommended allowing negotiated commercial agreements for early projects while maintaining regulatory flexibility as the market develops.
The groups also warned against retroactive policy changes that could affect the bankability of early infrastructure investments.
The statement concluded that rapid deployment of CO2 transport infrastructure will be essential for Europe’s industrial decarbonisation ambitions and that a pragmatic, proportionate regulatory approach will be necessary to scale the sector efficiently and cost-effectively.
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