EU Commission offers car industry more time to meet CO2 targets
The European Commission wants to give car manufacturers more time to meet Europe's CO2 emissions standards. That announced European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday after the second meeting of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry, which the Commission launched at the end of January.
According to Von der Leyen, there is a clear demand from the industry for more flexibility on CO2 emissions targets. “The key principle here is balance,” she said. “On the one hand, we need predictability and fairness for first movers, those who did their homework successfully. That means that we have to stick to the agreed targets.”
On the other hand, Von der Leyen feels that “we need to listen to the voices of the stakeholders that ask for more pragmatism in these difficult times, and for technology neutrality”. “Especially when it comes to the 2025 targets and related penalties in case of non-compliance,” she said.
"We need to listen to the stakeholders that ask for more pragmatism in these difficult times"
The European Commission president will therefore propose a focused amendment to the CO2 Standards Regulation. “Instead of annual compliance, companies will get three years [to comply with the CO2 standards, ed.],” she explained. “That means more breathing space for the industry and more clarity, without changing the agreed targets.”
Von der Leyen hopes that the European Parliament and member states will quickly approve the amendment.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen © BELGA PHOTO Wiktor Dabkowski / ZUMA Press Wire
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