After 8 meetings of the Council working group, there are still divergent views on the draft regulation of last May aimed, for the first time, at imposing CO2 emission reduction targets on the European fleet of new heavy-duty commercial vehicles in the interests of European climate and innovation.
Not surprisingly, the two points of friction are emission reduction targets and incentives for manufacturers to promote market penetration by low-emission or zero-emission vehicles. However, the Austrian Presidency hopes to reach a political agreement at the Environment Council meeting on 20 December.
A compromise is on the table on the Commission's incentives or super-credits. It provides that the Commission will consider the introduction of a 'benchmark' (mandatory quota) when revising the Regulation in 2022. The Austrian Presidency hopes that it will be possible to achieve a general approach (political agreement) on 20 December, before the end of its mandate.
As a reminder, Parliament, which adopted its position at the end of November, was ambitious in choosing as its binding target a 20% reduction by 2025 and a 35% reduction by 2030 (compared to 2019) for the European fleet of these heavy vehicles. It also voted in favour of a mandatory quota for low-emission (50% less emission) or zero-emission vehicles in the sale of these vehicles of 5% in 2025 and 20% in 2030 for each manufacturer (see EUROPE 12137). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)