Transport ministers from the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Hungary met in Strasbourg, on Monday 13 March, to try to reach a common position on ending the sale of new cars and vans with internal combustion engines by 2035 (see EUROPE 13134/1).
The meeting comes after Germany announced on 28 February that it would only validate the agreement reached by the Member States and the European Parliament if the European Commission presented a new legislative proposal allowing the continued registration of new vehicles running on e-fuels, which are supposed to be carbon neutral (see EUROPE 13131/6).
“We will discuss recent legislative acts that strongly influence the automotive sector and the future affordability of individual mobility in the EU”, said the Czech Minister of Transport, Martin Kupka, before the meeting began.
Berlin’s change of heart regarding the text on the end of the sale of combustion engine vehicles in 2035 had come as a great surprise to the European institutions. Germany had, in fact, supported the October 27 Interinstitutional Agreement. This was formally adopted by the European Parliament on 14 February. The adoption by the Member States should have been a formality on 7 March, but due to the lack of a qualified majority among the Member States, the Czech Presidency of the EU Council had decided to postpone the vote “to a later date”.
However, since Berlin’s opposition, other Member States have joined the German position. “I too will also oppose the ban on the internal combustion engine” if EU leaders vote in favour of the text, warned the Austrian Federal Chancellor, Karl Nehammer, on Monday 13 March, questioning the EU’s approach, which “focuses on only one propulsion mechanism”.
Discussions on ‘Euro 7’
In addition, the transport ministers also came back to the draft ‘Euro 7’ standard (see EUROPE 13124/24), which will tighten emission limits for pollutants that are harmful to health.
“We will discuss how to change the proposed Euro 7 emission standard so that it is acceptable for the EU automotive industry and its customers”, Mr Kupka said.
The announcement of this meeting has provoked reactions among MEPs, who are meeting this week in Strasbourg in plenary session (see EUROPE 13139/20).
“This is a serious time. We learn that a group of governments will meet in Strasbourg to organise a retaliation against the draft 'Euro 7' standard. This group will also address the issue of banning the sale of internal combustion cars in 2035, thus following the lead given by Germany ten days ago”, commented Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, French).
“These political reversals following a short-term industrial strategy will not allow the European car industry to be competitive at a time when the Chinese and Americans are electrifying at breakneck speed”, she added. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)