Seven EU member states – Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden – have called on the European Union to maintain a clear and ambitious path towards electrification. The countries oppose any further easing of the regulations included in the EU’s auto package due in December, despite calls from Germany and others for additional concessions.
The countries oppose any significant weakening of the original target, requiring all newly registered vehicles from 2035 onwards to emit zero grams of CO₂ per kilometer, a measure often referred to as the ICE phase-out.
The countries warn that any further deviation from the planned phase-out of internal combustion engines would represent a strategic mistake. In a joint letter written at the beginning of the month, they instead call on the EU to maintain its ambitious course towards battery-electric vehicles. The French news agency AFP got a copy of it.
“Any further weakening of CO₂ targets in the automotive sector would undermine the integrity and predictability of regulations designed to reduce emissions from motor vehicles. The ongoing energy crisis serves as clear evidence that reducing Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels is an absolute necessity. Electrification is not only a climate policy objective, but also necessary for our energy security.”
Automotive Package
Under the Automotive Package, some hybrid and combustion-engine vehicles could still be registered after 2035 if their CO₂ emissions are fully offset through a credit system. This could include the use of clean fuels, green steel produced in the EU, and/or supercredits for small electric vehicles with a maximum length of 4.20 m.
In practice, it means that CO₂ emissions must be formally reduced by 90% rather than 100%, though offsetting the remaining 10% through the credit system is expected to be challenging. In addition, the package includes plans for high electric vehicle quotas for large company fleets.
Some countries, particularly Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic, have long opposed the European Commission’s plans. Their demands include less stringent requirements for plug-in hybrids, changes to the planned compensation mechanism for CO₂ emissions after 2035, and more flexible interim targets.
At the same time, the German government rejects both the European Commission’s proposed supercredits for electric vehicles under 4.20 m in length (backed by the VW Group) and the planned regulation for company fleets with strict electric-vehicle quotas.
The EPP Group in the European Parliament also seeks to amend the Automotive Package, demanding genuine 90% CO₂ reductions without a credit system. This would effectively secure a future for petrol and diesel passenger cars.
Ministerial reactions
France’s Climate Minister, Monique Barbut, recently repeated that her country had formed a ‘blocking minority’ to prevent any further weakening of the European Commission’s Automotive Package December proposal on CO2 emission targets for cars. “It would be a terrible signal to go back on this car regulation,” she stated.
Sweden’s Minister for Climate and the Environment, Romina Pourmokhtari, has also reiterated this position: “Sweden will remain steadfast on the goal remaining for 2035,” she insisted.
