(1)

A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Fast, convenient, affordable, and above all climate-friendly transportation for all Europeans’ was submitted to the Commission on 5 February 2026.

(2)

The aim of the initiative as expressed by the organisers is to call on the Commission to ‘[m]ake travel by train a true alternative to aviation by creating a strong continental network and organization and removing imbalances in the market’. Specifically, the organisers propose: the introduction of an EU-wide aviation fuel tax (kerosene excise duty); the removal of VAT exemptions and the introduction of fair pricing and the allocation of revenues to a strong European rail organisation with far-reaching authority.

(3)

The Commission considers that it could adopt proposals for legal acts to introduce a kerosene excise duty, remove VAT exemptions and allocate revenues to a strong European rail organisation with far-reaching authority, based on Article 113 and Article 91 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

(4)

For that reason, the Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.

(5)

That conclusion does not affect the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for the Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and compatibility with fundamental rights, would be met in this case.

(6)

The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of that Regulation.

(7)

The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(8)

The initiative entitled ‘Fast, convenient, affordable, and above all climate-friendly transportation for all Europeans’ should therefore be registered.

(9)

The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission,