János Lázár, Hungary’s Minister of Construction and Transport, insisted that the automotive industry should not be put at risk at a press conference on Friday 20 September, following an informal meeting of European ministers in Budapest (see other news). However, some of his colleagues stressed the importance of maintaining climate goals.
The day before, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) called for support and “relief” measures, particularly concerning the rules on CO2 emissions from light vehicles (see EUROPE 13486/31).
Mr Lázár emphasised the automotive industry’s importance to the Hungarian economy: “25% of gross domestic product”. “This is the most competitive sector, and energy policy and climate policy cannot jeopardise it”, he argued. He also mentioned “the profitability of the large German automotive companies”.
He felt that climate targets needed to be adjusted to the market, but also that the industry needed to be forced to apply modern technologies. He called for pragmatism.
Also questioned at the meeting, Georges Gilkinet, the Belgian minister, confirmed that industrialisation was needed for greener mobility: “We need cheaper electric cars. It’s important because people don’t understand why it’s so expensive to have an electric car”. The Maltese minister, Chris Bonett, reiterated his commitment “to a Europe that goes carbon neutral by 2050”, thanks to alternative means of transport such as electric vehicles “which shouldn’t be imported“. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)