The 27 member countries of the European Union They approved in the early hours of Wednesday the project of the community executive to prohibit the sale of new combustion cars by 2035 and reduce emissions to zero.
The proposition had been announced by the European Comission in July 2021 and must contribute to achieving the continent’s climate goals, in particular carbon neutrality by 2050.
At the request of some countries, such as Germany and Italythe 27 agreed to contemplate the future admission of alternative technologies such as synthetic fuels or rechargeable hybrid engines if they allow the total elimination of greenhouse gas emissions.
The European environment ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, also extended for five years, until the end of 2035, the emission exemptions granted to “niche” manufacturers or those that produce less than 10,000 vehicles per year.
This clause, often called “ferrari amendment“, will especially benefit luxury brands.
These measures must now be negotiated with MEPs who this month also determined their position on the European executive’s proposals.
“This constitutes a great challenge for our automobile industry,” recognized the French Minister for Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, who chaired the meeting on Tuesday.
But he also pointed out that it is a “necessity” in the face of Chinese and American competition that has bet heavily on electric vehicles, considered the future of the industry.
These decisions taken “in advance” will “allow a planned and accompanied transition,” the minister added.
kg