EU's Phase-Out of Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles Faces Challenges... Opposition Clashes Between Germany and Italy

Plan to Ban Sales of New Internal Combustion Engine Cars from 2035
Germany and Italy Request Exceptions

The European Union's (EU) plan to completely ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles, such as gasoline and diesel cars, starting in 2035 has encountered obstacles from the outset. This is due to strong opposition from some member states, including Germany and Italy.

Daniel Holmberg, spokesperson for Sweden, the current rotating presidency of the EU, announced on the 3rd (local time) via Twitter that the vote on the bill to stop the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles by the 27 member states, originally scheduled for next week, has been postponed. The new date for the vote was not specifically mentioned.

For the EU's new legislation to be enacted, it typically requires final approval procedures by both the EU Council and the European Parliament following a trilateral negotiation agreement. However, this process has been stalled.

The EU Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council composed of 27 member states agreed last October through trilateral negotiations on a bill that would completely ban carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from internal combustion engine passenger cars, vans, and small commercial vehicles starting in 2035. Once enacted, the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles will be fully prohibited after 2035.

Foreign media reported that "the postponement of this vote is related to strong demands from some member states, including Germany and Italy, to include exemption clauses in the bill."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The German government argues that internal combustion engine vehicles using synthetic fuels (E-Fuels) produced by synthesizing green hydrogen and CO₂ should be exempted because they also have a CO₂ reduction effect. Volker Wissing, Germany's Minister of Transport, recently warned that "if the Commission does not present a binding law, we will abstain from the vote to approve the trilateral negotiation results."

The Italian government has also expressed its intention to align with France and Germany. Their goal is to delay the timeline set by the EU for the complete ban on the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles.

Italy, a powerhouse in the automotive industry, has long shown strong resistance to the EU's phase-out of internal combustion engine vehicles. Earlier, Matteo Salvini, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, criticized the bill to stop the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles as "a suicidal act for Europe," saying it "gifts the Chinese car companies that have dominated the electric vehicle market."

Giorgia Meloni, Italy's Prime Minister, celebrated the postponement of the vote as "a success for Italy," emphasizing, "Our government's position is clear. To avoid negative impacts on production and employment, a fair and sustainable transition must be carefully planned and implemented." She added, "While the goal of zero carbon emissions is correct, each country should be free to choose the path it considers most effective and sustainable."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.