Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European People’s Party pushes to revise EU car CO2 regulations, citing industry challenges and biofuel alternatives.
It has come to light that the centre-right political group in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party is scaling a drive to cut the European Union’s main approaches for slashing CO2 emissions from automobiles.
As reported by the Reuter, the demands from the largest group in both the European Parliament and the new European Commission which are expected to be issued on 11 Dec 2024 would fuel tension in the European Union from car makers and national administrations to urgently support the EU’s weak car manufacturing industry.
Why is the EPP challenging EU car CO2 rules?
According to Reuter, the European People’s Party document expressed that the European Union’s 2035 prohibition on sales of the latest CO2-emitting automobiles “should be reversed”, to ensure that deals of combustion engine automobiles that operate on biofuels and other substitute fuels can persist outside this deadline. The regulation should also be modified to back plug-in hybrid cars, which include an electric battery and a combustion engine, the draft stated.
The document also stated car makers should also be protected from the effect of more stringent car CO2 limitations. Some carmakers have cautioned they cannot satisfy these limitations and are enduring for potentially billions of euros in damages. The EPP proposed postponing the 2025 limitations to 2027 or easing the path carmakers’ obedience is accounted for.
European Union’s car industry is in upheaval, with many careers on the bar at automakers and their suppliers, all mourning from waning demand, Chinese rivals and lower-than-expected electric automobile sales. The European People’s Party Group carries considerable political power in the administration of the European Union. It is the largest group in both the EU Parliament and the new EU Commission where the bulk of the 27 EU Commission associates, including President Ursula von der Leyen, belongs from the EPP.
