On 5 November 2025, the European Commission adopted the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP), thus defining a strategic approach to promote renewable and low-carbon fuels for aviation and waterborne transport with a indicative budget of €2,9 billion by the end of 2027.

Lo STIP It aims to identify solutions to overcome various market constraints. These include the price gap between renewable or low-carbon fuels and conventional fuels, as well as price and revenue uncertainty, factors that are causing investor hesitation.

In order to achieve these goals, the STIP It includes three pillars:

• Un strategic framework which identifies the investment needs and existing shortcomings of the reference sector;
• A financing action which outlines actions with short/medium term impacts in order to reduce risks and incentivise investments, as well as boost the European market for renewable and low-carbon fuels;
• An external dimension aimed at facilitating the global production and adoption of renewable and low-carbon fuels.

Among the main investment measures that will be supported are (non-exhaustive list):

• €446 million for projects relating to synthetic fuels for aviation and shipping in the field of the Innovation Fund, of which EUR 153 million will be available for four eSAF projects, while EUR 293 million for five SMF (Maritime Fuel Projects);
• €300 million through the European Hydrogen Bank to support hydrogen-based fuels for aviation and maritime transport. The auction is scheduled to open in early December 2025.
• At least € 2 billion for sustainable alternative fuels in the period 2026-2027 in the context of
• Il EIB Group's TechEU programme aims to make available €250 billion by 2027 in key sectors for European competitiveness.
• An indicative budget of €133,5 million to support research and innovation projects on renewable fuel technologies and industrial value through the call Horizon Europe and the flagship initiatives of the SET Plan (2026-2027).
• In the context of EIC work programme for 2026, 'breakthrough innovations for future mobility' will be eligible for the EIC Scale Up call.

The Commission will launch a “Early Movers Alliance” with the Member States concerned at a high political level before the end of the yearThe overall objective will be to mobilize at least €500 million in 2026 to finance several large-scale projects through the organization of the first joint double auction for the eSAF.

The Commission will work to create an intermediary mechanism connecting fuel producers and buyers through a series of concrete measures. Furthermore, the investment plan aims to reduce the administrative burden on airlines and shipping operators.

The Investment Plan aims to strengthen international partnerships to increase global production of these fuels, while protecting EU investments and ensuring fair competition for EU fuel producers and users.