EU Parliament: Center factions reach combustion engine compromise

For more than two years, Manfred Weber (CSU) has made a big promise to his voters. Now, in the opinion of the party and group leader of the conservative EPP in the European Parliament, the big moment has come to proudly announce: "The unspeakable ban on combustion engines" is now "off the table".

In the last legislative period, the Social Democrats, Liberals, Greens and Left decided to - as Weber calls it - "burner-out". From 2035, no new cars that emit CO2 from the exhaust should be registered in Europe.

During the night, negotiators from Weber's European People's Party (EPP), Social Democrats and Liberals agreed on a softening of the agreement. Compared to the comparable year 2021, new cars would no longer have to save 100 percent, but only 95 percent, CO2. A further 7.5 percentage points less are possible if climate-friendly steel “Made in Europe” was used in the car.

“The goal in Europe remains the switch to electromobility”

The SPD MEP Tiemo Wölken, who helped negotiate the compromise, says: The goal in Europe remains the switch to electromobility: "At the same time, however, manufacturers are given more flexibility in achieving their goals in difficult times, and hybrid vehicles will therefore remain an option in a transition phase, but with clear specifications, especially when it comes to electric range."

Politicians from the EPP, which includes the CDU and CSU, pushed for further exceptions to be created for cars that run on renewable and low-emission fuels.

Here, says SPD politician Wölken, the conservatives were able to be negotiated down: "When registering vehicles that only run on low-emission fuels, we were able to limit the use of biofuels and thus establish a decisive line of protection for the climate and nature."

The Greens, represented by MEP Michael Bloss, fear that the agreement will result in exactly the opposite of what Weber was hoping for: "This is now chaos instead of planning security. Any plant that does not switch to electric cars today will be on shaky foundations tomorrow."

Bloss believes that at a time when more and more electric cars are being sold, the technology is now being weakened.

New momentum through German-French unification

New momentum came into the negotiations after Germany and France were able to agree on a joint paper last Friday. France gave up its resistance to the so-called combustion ban. In return, the federal government now supports “Made in Europe” guidelines for state funding for cars.

This also put the European Parliament under pressure. "The agreement between Germany and France is helpful - and now the agreement in the European Parliament," said EPP leader Weber. "On both sides it now enables us to move forward quickly and achieve results. Planning security is now the most important thing."

Both the Transport Committee and the Industry Committee will vote on Thursday. The lead environmental committee will follow at the beginning of November. The final vote in the plenary session is scheduled to take place in December.

Social Democrats and Liberals still have to agree to the agreement negotiated by their negotiators. That is considered likely. However, the European Parliament is always good for a surprise.