IRU has formally conveyed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the united and peaceful protest of 5,302 transport operators and shippers from across the EU. They have signed an online petition opposing the Commission’s intention to introduce mandatory zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) purchasing targets.
In just a short time, 5,302 transport operators and shippers from across the EU signed the petition.
This unified call for workable decarbonisation represents a genuine cross-section of the EU’s mobility and logistics community, including SMEs, family-run companies, and large operators.
The petition, “Yes to greening, no to purchasing mandates”, is a peaceful protest. It’s not against the EU’s climate objectives; it’s against a policy instrument that operators and shippers believe will not deliver the intended results and will instead distort markets and harm businesses.
The petition reflects a pragmatic consensus: while the road transport and logistics sector is firmly committed to decarbonisation, mandatory purchasing quotas are disproportionate and unworkable so long as the enabling conditions are not in place. If the enabling conditions were in place, or are established in the future, a mandate would not be necessary because the demand for ZEVs would naturally scale up.
IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian said, “EU road transport operators have always demonstrated resilience and cooperation: keeping supply chains moving during crises, absorbing cost shocks, and now integrating into military mobility planning, which relies heavily on civilian operations.
“At such a moment, sending the message that their business case no longer matters, that they must purchase ZEVs regardless of feasibility, is deeply counterproductive.”
A sector ready to decarbonise – with the right tools
A more effective and sustainable approach would be to prioritise enabling conditions:
- The rapid deployment of infrastructure
- Suitable taxation and charging frameworks
- Practical financing instruments
These measures would empower operators and shippers to accelerate the transition without compromising their viability or the essential services they provide.
A call for reconsideration
With this petition and letter, the road transport sector calls on President von der Leyen to reconsider the intention to impose mandatory ZEV purchasing targets on any actor in the free-market value chain.
“This is not the right time to imply that operators are collateral damage in a policy designed primarily to help manufacturers meet their targets. A successful transition requires a good business for all, which is based on enabling conditions, not on compulsory purchasing quotas,” concluded Raluca Marian.