A dividing line is beginning to take shape between MEPs at the S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL and ELDD on the one hand, and MEPs at the EPP and ECR, on the other, in view of the vote on 10 September at the European Parliament's environment committee. The vote will focus on last November's draft regulation to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and new vans by 30% by 2030, with an interim target of -15% by 2025 (see EUROPE 11948, 11942).
This reflects the divisions over the assessment of the changes required in the automobile sector. The different sides experienced significant mobilisations in this dossier (see other article). The most controversial questions involved the level of reductions and the modalities for transitioning to low emissions or zero emissions vehicles.
The fact that 650 amendments were submitted testifies to the scale of the challenge. Just as the compromise proposals arrive on the table in an effort to achieve the majority votes necessary, Rebecca Harms MEP (Greens/EFA, Germany), the shadow rapporteur for her group, expressed hope on Tuesday 4 September in Brussels to journalists that the compromises proposed by the rapporteur, Miriam Dalli (S&D Malta), could obtain the necessary support even though the initial position from the Greens was more ambitious. She argues that this will necessarily mean that the Paris agreement on the climate and the future of electric transport in Europe will be respected.
CO2 emissions reduction target. The Greens MEP from Germany also pointed out that “Even the Commission recognises that its proposal is not better from a costs/benefits point of view for industry and consumers” and that according to scientific studies, more ambitious targets are necessary, such as the one by the Öko-Institut e.V. based on a remaining carbons budget, which underpins the Greens’ scenario for an EU policy that is compatible with the Paris agreement up to 2030 (see EUROPE 11971).
Ms Harms stated “A reduction of at least 60% by 2030 indeed -75% is possible. The technology is there. This research is based on the 2°C target whereas the target sought is expected to be 1.5°. The Commission proposal means that we are very far away from these two targets. The Greens wanted 70%, even though we knew that this would never be retained. We wanted to create visibility with regard to what science is demanding”.
According to the MEP, the 50% target for 2030 is “an interesting line because it goes further than that of the Commission".
The compromise by the S&D, ADLE, Greens/EFA and ELDD advocates a 25% reduction by 2025 and 50% by 2030. the EPP/ECR groups is suggesting a compromise of 15% for passenger cars by 2025 but -20% by 2030.
Ms Harms said “I am convinced that in the future, engines will be electric. Certain member states and the Germans are on the side of the auto industry but the German government has not yet defined its position”. The Greens consider that ambitious reduction targets are the best way of pushing towards the electrification of the sector.
Number of low or zero emissions vehicles in fleet. The European Commission is proposing that automobile manufacturers that produce more than 15% of these vehicles sold by 2025 and more than 30% by 2030 are allocated a CO2 emissions reduction target that is less harsh for their respective fleet (the bonus, however, will be capped to 5% of the target).
The S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, ELDD compromise stipulates that manufacturers will not obtain a bonus unless the low or zero emissions vehicles share in their fleets exceeds 20% of sales in 2025 and 40% in 2030. If they do not attain this target of more than 2%, their CO2 emissions reduction target would be slightly increased.
In the EPP/ ECR compromise, the bonus would be granted if the 25% figure of passenger car sales is reached in 2025 and more than 30% by 2030. For vans, a share of 10% by 2025 and 20% by 2030 would be sufficient for granting the bonus.
The EU has not yet reached its position but intends to do so by October at the latest (see EUROPE 12048). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)