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The European Commission has announced a package of measures for the development of alternative fuel stations across Europe with common standards for their design and use.

The legislative package includes a proposal that LNG refuelling stations be installed in all 139 maritime and inland ports on the Trans European Core Network by 2020 and 2025 respectively.

The refuelling stations would not be major gas terminals, but either fixed or mobile refuelling stations covering all major EU ports.

The Clean Power for Transport Package consists of a Communication on a European alternative fuels strategy, a Directive focusing on infrastructure and standards and an accompanying document describing an action plan for the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in shipping.

EC Vice President Siim Kallas, responsible for Transport said. "Developing innovative and alternative fuels is an obvious way to make Europe's economy more resource efficient, to reduce our overdependence on oil and develop a transport industry which is ready to respond to the demands of the 21st century."

Member States will be able to implement these changes without necessarily involving public spending by changing local regulations to encourage private sector investment and behaviour. EU support is already available from TEN-T funds, cohesion and structural funds.