SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 4 October 2024, Friday |

EU, Germany edge towards solution on combustion engine row

Germany and the European Union are on a good path to solve a row over the bloc’s planned 2035 phaseout of CO2-emitting cars, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on his arrival to an EU summit on Thursday.

The official summit agenda covers a broad range of issues from migration to sending ammunition to Ukraine, but last-minute opposition from Germany to one of Europe’s biggest climate change policies is looming over the talks.

The car CO2 law is not on the summit’s official agenda, nor is it mentioned in leaders’ draft conclusions for the meeting – suggesting leaders will not attempt to take any decisions on the matter.

“We can talk about anything, but we have the [EU policymaking] institutions and we cannot be responsible for everything,” Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said.

Last-minute opposition from Germany’s transport ministry has blocked the EU’s law to end sales of new CO2-emitting cars in 2035, despite EU countries and lawmakers already agreeing a deal on it last year.

The dispute has raised concerns among some EU officials that political deals on other major laws could unravel.

“We have chosen a clear path to phase out CO2 emissions from cars, this is not the moment to waiver,” said Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

The EU law is expected to make it impossible to sell new combustion engine cars in the EU after 2035. Germany’s Transport Ministry wants assurances that new combustion engine cars can be sold beyond that date if they run on e-fuels – a request supported by parts of Germany’s powerful car industry.

The Ministry and the European Commission, which drafts EU laws, are in talks. A draft EU Commission proposal, seen by Reuters this week, suggested allowing carmakers to register sales in a new type of vehicle category, for cars that can only run on carbon neutral fuels.

    Source:
  • Reuters