The issue of the European Parliament’s recent vote on the ‘Huitema’ report on CO2 emission standards for cars and vans, in particular the amendment banning the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, was widely discussed during a hearing in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on Tuesday 21 June with representatives of the automotive sector (ACEA, CLEPA, ANFIA), trade unions (IG Metall) and NGOs (T&E).
The hearing had been planned for a long time. However, the vote earlier this month in plenary, which excludes the sale of new internal combustion vehicles from 2035 (see EUROPE 12967/3), was on everyone’s mind. This is because the automotive sector and part of the European Parliament (mainly the right wing) had pushed, unsuccessfully, for an amendment that aimed to reduce emissions from the automotive sector by 90% rather than 100% by 2035, allowing production lines to be maintained in internal combustion engine technology (see EUROPE 12950/10).
Thus, during the speeches, the automotive sector and MEPs ranging from the far right, such as Italy’s Isabella Tovaglieri, to social democrats, such as Romania’s Dan Nica, agreed on the need to opt for a solution that they consider “realistic”.
Their requests, in general, focused on the need not to exclude any alternative technology, including new internal combustion technologies, in order to make the transition successful while limiting job destruction. The production of electric cars is less intensive in terms of employment than the production of conventional and thermal cars. They were also concerned about the risk of losing European know-how and creating new dependencies on third countries, in this case on Chinese lithium.
They all stressed the scale of the investments required, particularly to deploy electric charging stations throughout Europe, and the inability to compete with China. Dominique Riquet (Renew Europe, France) made a particularly strong intervention against the European Parliament vote, which will have a “disastrous” impact on the economy, for a “dubious” result on the environment. He recalled that the ITRE committee had taken a more moderate position than that adopted in plenary.
Green MEPs and representatives of T&E and IG Metall sounded a different note, criticising the litany of complaints from the industrial sector, as did Michael Bloss (Greens/EFA, Germany), before insisting on the strength of the market to guide the action of economic operators and public action to accompany the transition, particularly in the deployment of charging stations.
Julia Poliscanova, Senior Director at Transport & Environment (T&E), also pointed out that markets would emerge internationally - in China, the United States, Canada and Chile - to move towards zero-emission mobility. This will result in a shift towards mass production of electric vehicles, she analysed. Europe should focus on innovation to remain competitive.
In addition, she also recognised Europe’s dependence on certain raw materials, such as lithium. But she recalled that lithium also exists in Europe. Exploitation in a relatively environmentally friendly way is possible thanks to existing technologies, such as geothermal energy, she added. Finally, she pointed out that recycling could be a viable solution to “secure” raw materials on European territory.
On the EU Council side, environment ministers are expected to adopt a general approach at the Environment Council on 28 June. The Czech Republic, which is taking over the rotating presidency of the EU Council, hopes to open inter-institutional negotiations soon. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)