The Council of the European Union adopted a regulation that sets CO2 emission standards for new cars and trucks.
The new regulation, which was already mentioned in the “2035 ban”, reiterates the phased and final reduction targets: a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions from 2030 to 2034 for new cars and 50% for new vans compared to 2021 levels; and a 100% reduction in CO2 emissions from 2035 onwards for new cars and vans. emissions of new cars and trucks will be reduced by 100% from 2035 onwards, i.e. to zero emissions. This means that from 2035, no new fuel cars will be sold in 27 EU countries.
The regulation also retains exemptions for a small number of manufacturers, such as certain sports car brands, who will be exempt from meeting the mid-term CO2 reduction target until the end of 2035.
“The new rules will open up opportunities for cutting-edge technologies and create incentives for industry to invest in a fossil fuel-free future,” said Dutch MEP Jan Huitema, the EU Parliament rapporteur for the regulation.
EU Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans praised the vote, calling the EU “an important step forward in achieving zero-emissions travel. He tweeted, “This regulation is a clear direction: by 2035, new cars and vans must be zero-emissions. It will make a major contribution to climate neutrality by 2050 and is a key part of the European Green Deal.”
This provision was adopted in the Council with only Poland voting against, with Bulgaria, Italy and Romania abstaining.
In the middle of last month, the European Parliament in Strasbourg voted 340 in favor, 279 against and 21 abstentions to adopt the 2035 European Zero Emissions Agreement for new fuel cars and minivans sold in Europe reached by the European Commission and the European Council. However, the agreement was delayed due to subsequent opposition from Germany, a major car manufacturing country.
In exchange for its support, Germany asked the European Commission to guarantee that non-binding provisions in the text dealing with the use of synthetic fuels (e-fuels) would need to be approved. Italy, meanwhile, asked for assurances on the use of biofuels. If synthetic fuels are made from renewable electricity and carbon extracted from the atmosphere, they are carbon neutral.
After weeks of internal discussions, the European Commission met Germany’s request, stating in a statement that cars could be registered for sale using synthetic fuels after 2035, a concession Germany received to support the provision. The European Commission will propose an enabling bill that sets out how synthetic-fueled cars will count toward vehicle CO2 targets.
Italy, on the other hand, requested that biofuels be included, but the European Commission did not meet this request because it believes that biofuels are not carbon neutral fuels. Biofuels are fuels made from biomass, cooking oil or animal fat, among others. Italian Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said in a statement that the European Commission’s statement on synthetic fuels “represents an overly narrow interpretation that does not allow for the full implementation of the principle of technological neutrality that Italy has been fighting for,” and said the country will continue to fight for The country will continue to fight for the inclusion of biofuels.
Huytema, the European Parliament rapporteur for the regulation, said he would carefully assess any possible future proposals on synthetic fuels, both in terms of content and legal basis. Philippe Lamberts, a Green MEP in the European Parliament, praised the agreement, calling it “a good day for the future of European industrial competitiveness,” but criticized Germany’s last-minute intervention in the legislative process.
