On Thursday 10 June, following an intervention by the Netherlands, the European Union Member States Environment Ministers had a brief exchange of views on how to accelerate the decarbonisation of transport, including setting a deadline for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the EU.
Speaking, the Czech Minister said: “We need to keep in mind that each Member State finds itself in a different situation. Hence, it’s not feasible in our opinion to set a phase out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the whole EU”.
Like Belgium, other Member States have, on the contrary, reiterated their support for the idea, referring to a March letter from nine countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands) to the European Commission (see EUROPE 12675/20).
Exports of second-hand vehicles
On the other hand, Member States seemed more united on the need to ensure that exported second-hand vehicles, particularly to Africa, are of better quality and environmental performance, in the context of the revision of the EU Directive (2000/53) on end-of-life vehicles (due by the end of next year).
While Poland stressed the importance of ensuring that such vehicles do not end up being exported from one Member State to another, Belgium expressed its support for the Dutch proposal to discourage or prevent the export of second-hand vehicles that do not meet Euro 4 emission standards. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)