Recital 34

(34)Given their potential to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and thus contribute to greening the transport sector, maritime shipping and aviation constitute important transport modes for the transition to a low-carbon economy. According to the communication from the Commission of 9 December 2020‘Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy– putting European transport on track for the future’ ¹³ , zero emission vessels are expected to become ready for market by 2030. According to that strategy, large zero-emission aircrafts are expected to become ready for market by 2035 for short distance, while for longer distance decarbonisation is expected to rely on renewable and low-carbon fuels. Separate studies have also been conducted on sustainable financing criteria for those sectors. Therefore, maritime shipping should be considered as a transitional economic activity as referred to in Article 10(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852. Shipping is one of the least carbon intensive ways to transport goods. To ensure equal treatment of shipping in comparison with other modes of transport, technical screening criteria for maritime transport should be established and should be applicable until the end of 2025. It will however be necessary to further assess maritime shipping and, where appropriate, to establish technical screening criteria for maritime shipping applicable as of 2026. It will also be necessary to further assess aviation and, where appropriate, to establish relevant technical screening criteria. Furthermore, the technical screening criteria should be established for low carbon transport infrastructure for certain modes of transport. However, in light of the potential of transport infrastructure to contribute to modal shift, it will be necessary to assess and where appropriate establish relevant technical screening criteria for overall infrastructure that is essential for low carbon transport modes, notably inland waterways. Depending on the outcome of the technical assessment, relevant technical screening criteria should also be established for the economic activities referred to in this recital at the time of adoption of the delegated act referred to in Articles 12(2), 13(2), 14(2) and 15(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.