European Parliament’s Committee on Transport examined a draft report on reducing CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles on Wednesday 3 June.
It aims to adjust the 2030 emissions target for cars and vans in order to maintain manufacturers’ capacity to invest, notably in the transition to ‘zero-emission’ vehicles.
“Automotive industry is undergoing one of the biggest transformations in its history. Our industry needs greater flexibility, and to maintain jobs in Europe. […] My report supports a middle ground, with ambitious climate targets, while preserving investment security”, summarised the rapporteur for the text, Jens Gieseke (EPP, German).
The automotive industry, exposed to Chinese competition and faced with the challenge of decarbonisation, is seeing its jobs threatened, according to a European Commission analysis under the European Semester, published today (see EUROPE 13880/5).
In this context, MEPs want to use all the tools available to decarbonise the sector. “We must adapt the Regulation to this reality and ensure that hybrid electric vehicles can play a role in the energy transition”, argued Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Renew Europe, German). The concept of ‘technological neutrality’ is at the heart of the text, in line with the recommendations of the ‘Draghi’ report.
“There are many superficial elements in this draft report, but in the end there is very little electric mobility”, regretted Vivien Costanzo (S&D, German), shadow rapporteur on the text. “How can we find a compromise in the centre?”, she asked.
As part of the ‘automotive package’, this text should allow the EU to act on the supply of low-emission vehicles, complementing a proposal on the decarbonisation of corporate fleets, which is more focused on demand (see EUROPE 13880/13).
To consult the draft report (in French): https://aeur.eu/f/m61 (Original version in French by Juliette Verdes)