Speech staatssecretaris Van Veldhoven bij ondertekening van Benelux Declaration of Intent on cross-border electric driving.

Toespraak | 07-12-2017

[De speech is uitsluitend in het Engels beschikbaar. Alleen het gesproken woord geldt]

Ladies and gentlemen,

•    Welcome to The Hague!
•    I’m especially delighted to welcome:

o    Bart Tommelein, Flemish Vice-Minister-President 
      and Minister for Budget, Finance and Energy;
o    Camille Gira, Secretary of State for Sustainable
      Development and Infrastructure of Luxembourg, and;
o    Marc Clairbois, Wallonia-Brussels General Delegate
      in The Hague;
o    Stefan Meers (Open Chargepoint, Belgium);
o    Jurjen de Jong (eViolin, the Netherlands), and;
o    Alex Michels (Chargy, Luxembourg).

•    Today we’re going to make cross-border electric
     driving easier.
•    With this declaration of intent, we’re sending out a
     clear message: we need to clean up transport and
     mobility. Fast.
•    Our ultimate goal is zero-emission transport.
•    Because that is key to achieving the climate ambitions
     agreed in Paris.
•    Zero-emission transport means fewer greenhouse gas
     emissions, clean air and less noise pollution.
•    We’re glad to be working with Belgium and
     Luxembourg on the next big step towards the future
     of driving.
•    Electric cars are becoming mainstream.
•    That’s good.
•    But we need to remove several obstacles.
o   We want to be able to charge our electric car
     wherever we are – at home or abroad.
o   So we need to be able to use our provider’s card or
     app at any charging point, at home or abroad.
o   And the cost of charging our car needs to be clear, at
     every charging point.
•    At present, this is not always the case.
•    So that’s something we need to fix. Fast.
•    If we want everyone to drive zero-emission vehicles,
     or ZEVs, we need to make it easier. At home and
     abroad.
•    We need to make electric driving more appealing.
     So that the community of ZEV drivers will grow.
•    We’re signing this declaration of intent, because we
     want to create a transboundary electric transport
     network of three neighbouring countries.
•    The first one ever.
o    With a public charging infrastructure that’s accessible
      to all ZEV drivers;
o    With e-roaming payment systems that accept any
      service provider card or app;
o    And fair, transparent charging rates for all customers.
•    So wherever you are in Belgium, Luxembourg or the
     Netherlands, you’ll be able to plug in your car and pay
     for a charging session with your own card or app.
•    It’s not all that surprising, perhaps. If there’s one
     region where cooperation comes naturally to
     everyone, it’s the Benelux.
•    And our three countries are pioneers in electric
     driving.
•    We account for one quarter of all plug-in hybrids and
     ZEVs in the EU. And for nearly a third of all EU charging
     stations!
•    The declaration of intent will make electric driving
      even more appealing.
•    Cars symbolise freedom.
•    This declaration of intent will increase that freedom
      for drivers of electric cars.
•    And it’s good for air quality and the climate, too.

Ladies and gentlemen,

•    The declaration of intent underscores the Benelux’s intention to continue leading the way in the transition to sustainable mobility in Europe.
•    And to contribute significantly to the EU’s international
     climate commitments.
•    The Benelux countries are part of a leading group
     that’s aiming for the strictest possible carbon emission
     standards for cars and vans.
•    We’re also looking at other measures to move
     sustainable mobility forward, on top of EU legislation.
•    The political declaration of intent is not enough.
•    If we’re to achieve all this, governments, sector
     organisations and companies need to work together.
•    So it’s good news that the associations representing
     charging station and service providers are also signing
     a declaration of intent today.
•    They’re going to work together on a number of
      actions. For instance:
o    Issuing ID numbers for charging cards and charging
      points;
o    Setting minimum standards for charging station
      equipment;
o    And creating a single e-roaming zone throughout the
      Benelux.
•    Good cooperation is and always will be crucial.
      Governments need to help market parties in order to 
      accelerate cross-border electric driving.
•    The time is right, so why wait?
•    That’s why today, we’re taking not one, but two steps
     towards clean air, less noise pollution and fewer
     greenhouse gas emissions.
•    It’s a promising start for this conference, and a major
     contribution towards ‘Paris’.
•    Before we proceed with the official part of the
     programme, let me wish you all a pleasant and
     inspiring day.
•    Thank you.