Eurofuel blog

Takeaways from Eurofuel meeting in Vienna

At the end of November 2025, experts on liquid fuels from across Europe gathered in Vienna for a Eurofuel meeting hosted by EWO. The meeting was both productive and insightful.

“Exchange across borders is indispensable for our sector,” emphasised EWO Managing Director Martin Reichard. “Only through close international cooperation can we jointly respond to regulatory changes and actively shape the future of liquid energy.”

Reviewing 2025, Preparing for 2026

Eurofuel invited its members to Vienna to reflect on the year coming to an end and to define strategies and priorities for 2026. The meeting was chaired by Secretary General Federica Miano, Eurofuel President Dr Ernst-Moritz Bellingen, and Eurofuel Vice-President Bernhard Wüst.

Experts from the Eurofuel Board as well as from the PR and Technical Committees took part in the discussions. Participating on site were representatives from Germany (en2x), Switzerland (Avenergy Suisse), Belgium (in4fuels), Finland (LEY), and Austria (EWO). Additional contributors joined via video call from Italy (FIDA), the United States (NORA, Delavan), the United Kingdom (OFTEC), as well as the French association FF3C and the French heating pump manufacturer Suntec.

Communication Strategies and Social Media Trends

As Chair of the PR Committee, EWO Marketing Director Sabrina Beck, presented an overview of social media trends looking ahead to 2026. While usage among younger generations is declining, Baby Boomers are increasingly active on online platforms. Across all target groups, relevance and proximity to everyday life are key success factors.

The keynote presentation inspired the future PR strategy of both Eurofuel and its members.

“In 2026, we will continue to work closely together at the international level and implement joint communication initiatives,” Beck explained. “The focus will be on the strategic importance of liquid and renewable liquid energy. This will be underpinned by studies, as well as testimonials and practical and expert reports that make real-world applications tangible.”

Technical Committee: Standards and EU Regulation

The Technical Committee, chaired by Belgian in4fuels expert Guido Saenen, M.A., focused on standards, standardisation and EU regulatory developments.

A key priority for the coming year will be the EU Ecodesign Directive, which includes plans to revise requirements for heating systems. The adoption of a draft regulation has already been delayed several times, and even the most recently communicated timeline for the first quarter of 2026 now appears unlikely to be met.

Also high on the agenda is the upcoming European Heating and Cooling Strategy, which aims to define long-term guidelines for an efficient, sustainable and technologically diverse heating and cooling supply across Europe.

Refinery Visit: The Future of Liquid Energy

The Eurofuel delegation took advantage of its stay in Vienna to visit the nearby Schwechat site. Austria’s only refinery location has been in operation since 1958.

The facility is one of the largest and most modern inland refineries in Europe. Crude oil is transported to Schwechat via the Adria–Vienna Pipeline and the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), where it is processed through distillation, desulphurisation, upgrading and blending into fuels, heating fuels, bitumen and petrochemical products.

The OMV refinery also includes the ReOil® chemical recycling plant. This patented process enables the recycling of mixed plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated. The circular feedstock produced through chemical recycling can be used to manufacture new, virgin-quality plastics, making it a perfect complement to mechanical recycling.

A Potpourri of Renewable Liquid Energy

On the second day of the meeting, the Eurofuel Board convened under the chairmanship of President Ernst-Moritz Bellingen. Members agreed that hybrid solutions and renewable liquid fuels must be given a clearly defined role in the long-term energy mix.

Bellingen stressed that unity among associations is more important than ever. “Whether FAME, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or synthetically produced e-fuels – ultimately, we need a potpourri of climate-friendly fuels from a wide range of sources,” he said. Individual European countries can serve as role models, including France and Finland, where liquid fuels based on 100% HVO are already available.

Affordable Climate Protection

In a short keynote, Mag. Hans Jörg Einfalt spoke about the “energy trilemma” of security of supply, affordability and climate protection. Drawing on his many years of experience at Shell Austria, he shared insights shaped by market mechanisms and existing infrastructure.

“The key is to see the challenges of decarbonisation as an opportunity,” Einfalt concluded. “Renewable liquid energy enables affordable CO₂ reduction, as these energy carriers can be used within the existing infrastructure.”