The member of FinMobility, Finnish Bus and Coach Association CEO Mika Mäkilä, visited Brussels for two days of intensive meetings with Members of the European Parliament and key stakeholders to discuss the implications of the Commission’s proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA).
The discussions highlighted growing concerns regarding the proposal’s impact on the public transport sector – particularly on public procurement and ongoing investments in zero-emission fleets.
The Commission proposal introduces “Made in EU” criteria for public procurement. In its current form, vehicles already registered in the EU would only be considered compliant until 31 December 2035. At the same time, bus fleets have long lifecycles (15+ years), meaning that a significant share of existing investments will still be in operation beyond that date.
This creates substantial uncertainty regarding future tender eligibility and the economic viability of current investments. It also risks excluding vehicles that were purchased in good faith under existing EU legislation.
The situation is particularly challenging in Finland and other Nordic markets, where the availability of zero-emission buses relies heavily on non-EU manufacturers. In practice, this could reduce competition, increase costs, and limit the availability of suitable vehicles – ultimately slowing down the green transition.
It is essential that EU industrial policy supports both competitiveness and decarbonisation in a pragmatic and predictable way. Regulatory uncertainty must not undermine ongoing investments or delay emissions reductions.
The meetings in Brussels were highly constructive, with strong interest in the topic. A clear message emerged: supporting European industry must go hand in hand with safeguarding the transition already underway and ensuring alignment with market realities.
Our full position paper can be found below.
