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9.14. From January 2020 to October 2022, six legislative acts in road transport from the "Mobility Package 1" have been adopted, (...). It also contributes to the decarbonisation of road transport sector.

9.17. Within the framework of the European Green Deal, the Commission has also announced a renewed sustainable finance strategy in 2021. Following-up on that, the EU co-legislators have reached an agreement on the Commission's proposals to establish a classification of sustainable economic activities (EU Taxonomy) and establish a framework for the disclosure of corporate sustainability information (CSDR). A legislative proposal for the creation of a European Green Bond Standard is still under discussion.

9.22. The new policy, which became applicable on 1st January 2023, focuses on 10 specific objectives, linked to common EU goals for social, environmental, and economic sustainability in agriculture and rural areas. It will seek to ensure a more sustainable future for European farmers, provide more targeted support to smaller farms, (...). Agriculture and rural areas are central to the European Green Deal, and the new CAP will be a key tool in reaching the ambitions of the Farm to Fork and biodiversity strategies.

9.24. (...) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), which will amount to EUR 95.5 billion. The budget for the EAFRD includes EUR 8 billion from NGEU [Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery plan] to help rural areas implement the structural changes necessary to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal and the digital transition.

9.26. The EU has granted an exceptional and temporary derogation to allow the production of crops on land set aside within the EU, while maintaining full greening payments for farmers. (...)

9.27. In the context of the revision of the EU geographical indications (GI) systems, the Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on GIs for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and other quality schemes for agricultural products, with the entry into force expected for the beginning of 2024. The proposal aims to ensure an effective protection of GIs and to increase the uptake of GIs across the EU in order to benefit the rural economy and achieve a higher level of protection for GIs, especially online. [114]
[114] (...) To better valorise the GI products, the producers are encouraged to include in their product specifications social, environmental and economic sustainable undertakings that are going beyond the legal requirements. (...)

9.28. Each year, the Customs Union facilitates the trade of more than EUR 3.5 trillion worth of goods. Efficient customs clearance and controls are essential to allow trade to flow smoothly while also protecting EU citizens, businesses and the environment. The "EU Single Window Environment for Customs" (EU SWE-C) is designed to provide quicker and more efficient sharing of electronic data between national customs administrations and EU regulatory authorities across policy domains.

9.31. Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 of 15 July 2020 on electronic freight transport information (eFTI) entered into force on 20 August 2020 with the aim of (...), and enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of transport. (...) It shall apply from 21 August 2024, while the competent authorities shall accept regulatory information made available electronically by economic operators from 21 August 2025.

9.33. On 6 April 2022, the reform of the system of VAT rates was adopted. Member States are treated equally and given more flexibility to apply reduced, as well as zero VAT rates. The list of goods and services for which reduced VAT rates are allowed has been updated and modernised. [117]
[117] (...) The package also contains measures to address possible future crises enabling Member States to respond swiftly to exceptional circumstances, like (...) or natural disasters. The preferential treatment for environmentally harmful goods will be phased out. Reduced VAT rates or exemptions on fossil fuels and other goods with a similar impact on greenhouse gas emissions will cease to apply by 1 January 2030 and those on chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides by 1 January 2032, (...) . In addition, some environmentally friendly goods and services are added to the list for which reduced rates are allowed, such as solar panels, electric bicycles and waste recycling services.

1. (...) The period under review was characterized by a major change in development and political goals and priorities led by the adoption of, inter alia, the European Green Deal, (...). While many of these concrete measures are still a work in progress (e.g. the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, green taxation, and green government procurement), certain new measures have already been adopted (...)