The European Union postpones the final vote on the planned end of combustion engines from 2035. This was announced by Sweden on Friday. The country currently holds the EU Council Presidency and must therefore play a leading role in sounding out compromises on controversial issues. An eagerly awaited test vote in Brussels was also canceled, as Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (52) said in Berlin. Germany otherwise would not have agreed, said the FDP politician.
The proposal promised by the EU Commission on how climate-friendly fuels – so-called e-fuels – could be used in combustion engines after 2035 is still missing, and not just in small quantities. “We want carbon neutral mobility.” But you have to be open to all conceivable technologies.
The test vote should show how the majority in the European Union is currently. Without Germany’s approval, the vote planned for Tuesday could have failed. Passing the law requires the approval of 15 out of 27 member states, which together must make up at least 65 percent of the total population of the EU. In addition to Germany, countries such as Italy, Poland and Bulgaria recently did not want to agree to the plans. The 65 percent hurdle would not be reached without Germany.
Actually, negotiators of the European Parliament and the EU states agreed on this in Octoberthat in the EU from 2035 only new cars may be sold that do not emit any greenhouse gases during operation. The pending vote of the EU states is the very last step in the legislative process and is actually a formality.
Wissing: Switching by 2045 is only possible with e-fuels
A new date for a decision was not initially given. According to the Swedes, the representatives of the 27 EU countries would deal with this in good time. After tough negotiations, the European Parliament, the EU Commission and the member states had already approved the corresponding draft law last year. This plan is now on hold shortly before formal approval because the FDP is blocking an agreement. Such a late intervention is unusual in Brussels.
Wissing said in the Bundestag that every second car that was newly registered in Germany last year had an alternative drive. “This shows that people are changing.” Synthetic fuels are needed for the existing fleet, but not only for that. In 2045 – from this year Germany wants to be climate-neutral – every second car in Germany will be on the road with an internal combustion engine. That will only work with climate-neutral fuels.
“FDP and Greens have fundamentally opposite views on the future of the car,” said CDU politician Thomas Bareiß (48). Biofuels are already available at low cost and are climate-neutral. “Through the use of biodiesel, for example, the vehicle fleet can quickly drive in a more climate-friendly manner.” No one who takes climate protection seriously can do without biofuels.