BRUSSELS Everything should have been ready when the majority of the EU Parliament voted to ban internal combustion engines in the session held in February.
The background was the agreement reached with the EU Council of Ministers, according to which the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars would end in the EU in 2035.
In practice, this means that new cars sold after 2035 would run on electricity or hydrogen.
The electrification of the car fleet is considered a significant step towards reducing traffic emissions. Emission requirements for cars are also part of the EU’s ambitious green transition goals.
Germany is holding back the decision
Now the consensus on banning combustion engines is at stake. Germany is blocking the final sealing of the combustion engine ban in the EU Council of Ministers.
Together with Poland, Italy and Bulgaria, Germany forms a quorum that prevents the final approval of legislation related to internal combustion engines in the Council of Ministers.
The background of Germany’s changed position is the liberal democratic government party FDP. The party wants to keep the door open for combustion engine cars also after 2035.
Minister of Transport representing the Liberal Democrats by Volker Wissing according to FDP does not accept the emission targets set for new cars, if synthetic fuels called electric fuels are not taken into account as part of the whole.
Climate-neutral electric fuels have been seen as a way to replace gasoline and diesel in cars using internal combustion engine technology. However, their commercial production is in its infancy.
An extraordinary turn
Germany has hoped for confirmation from the Commission that electric fuels produced in a climate-neutral manner could be used in new internal combustion engine cars also after 2035. A solution is being sought feverishly in the negotiations between the Commission and Germany.
Braking can be considered very exceptional in EU decision-making. The final approval of the results of negotiations between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers is usually a mere formality.
Having served as the chief negotiator of the Parliament Jan Huiteman According to (Renew), Germany’s actions are unheard of.
– Although I note the efforts to find a solution, I naturally expect that the consensus we have reached will remain valid in all respects, the Dutch coach states in the press release.
German guy: the problems have been woken up too late
representing the centre-right EPP group in Parliament Jens Gieseken according to it is good that the banning of combustion engine cars is looked at critically. The EPP group has opposed a complete ban on combustion engine cars.
– Combustion engine cars should not be abandoned for ideological reasons. If we have climate-neutral alternatives for fuel, then we should also be able to use them, says Gieseke, a German engineer, to in Brussels.
A complete change of government can have an impact on Germany’s position as a reliable negotiation partner in the EU, Gieseke estimates. According to him, Germany should have reacted to the problems related to the banning of combustion engines earlier.
A member of the coalition Henna Crochet is on the same lines.
– It is unfortunate that Germany and certain other member states woke up so late, but it is better late than never, says Virkkunen in an interview with .
Finland does not want to open the agreement
Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakan (sd.), Finland understands Germany’s concerns. However, making a full turn in the final meters is not in the common interest of the EU.
– If the reached negotiation result opens from one angle, it will also be resolved from other angles. Because of that, the already reached compromises should not be opened again. It paralyzes EU decision-making and makes it unpredictable, Harakka tells .
Magpie hopes that Germany and the Commission will find common ground.
– There would certainly be an opportunity to reach this compromise that Germany is aiming for, without completely opening this up.
Finland is preparing an EU-level statement regarding car emission targets.
– We repeat our position, which has been from the beginning regarding the CO2 limit values for passenger cars and vans, that biogas should be taken into account at least as a transitional fuel.
Traffic emissions are increasing
Traffic emissions correspond to approximately 12 percent of the EU’s combined carbon dioxide emissions. Traffic emissions have also continued to grow, unlike other sectors.
According to the Brussels-based environmental organization Transport & Environment, Germany’s actions endanger the EU’s goals for reducing climate emissions.
– Both the chancellor of Germany and the chancellor are in the game By Olaf Scholz as well as the credibility of the entire European climate agenda, the head of the organization Julia Poliscanova says.
Poliscanova does not believe that synthetic electric fuels can be a viable alternative to electric cars.
– It’s just a pretext that the defenders of combustion engines use to try to get a continuation of fossil fuels and combustion engines.
According to him, clinging to combustion engine technology threatens to delay the investments Europe needs in electric car technology.
– By delaying decisive decisions, we give China and the United States the opportunity to win the global competition related to green technologies such as batteries, says Poliscanova.