EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola has indirectly criticized the federal government for its blockade in the dispute over cars with internal combustion engines. Without Germany to mention explicitly, Metsola said in Brussels on Thursday that no agreement could be reversed.
It is about trust between the co-legislators and the credibility of the procedure. “If we are asked or mandated by our citizens to legislate in a certain area (…), then we have to be ready to do it. And if we do that, then we have to deliver,” Metsola said.
Negotiators from the EU states and the European Parliament had already agreed in autumn that only zero-emission new cars may be registered in the European Union from 2035. However, Germany initially prevented the EU states from confirming the deal, which was scheduled for early March. The federal government is demanding a proposal from the EU Commission on the use of e-fuels beforehand. This refers to artificial fuels produced with green electricity that are climate-neutral.
At the beginning of the week, Metsola wrote a letter to the current EU Council Presidency at the request of Parliament and appealed to the governments of the states to be reliable. Parliament is “greatly concerned”” said the letter, which is available to the German Press Agency.
German behavior causes irritation
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has defended the federal government’s blockade in the dispute over cars with combustion engines against criticism from European partners. “There is a clear understanding in Europe,” said the SPD politician on Thursday at an EU summit in Brussels. This includes the EU Commission making a proposal as to how vehicles with combustion engines that are only operated with climate-neutral e-fuels can also be approved after 2035. “That’s a consensus.”
However, anyone who listened to other heads of government quickly realized that the German approach was at least irritating for some partners, if anything it was anger. Most recently, the FDP in particular ensured that an important climate protection law could not be passed in the EU, according to which only emission-free new cars may be registered in the EU from 2035.
The prime minister of Latvia, Krisjanis Karins, was the clearest. With regard to the German approach, he spoke of a “very, very difficult sign for the future”. It is surprising that a government suddenly decides differently after an agreement has already been reached. Karins warned, “The whole architecture of decision-making would fall apart if we all did that.” Diplomats in Brussels express themselves more clearly behind closed doors. They accuse Germany of a breach of trust.
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel reacted annoyed to the debate on Thursday. Of course you can talk about anything at the summit. But actually the topic is not on the agenda. “It’s not a request concert when we come to Brussels.” The European Council of heads of state and government should not be responsible for everything, but should give impetus. For everything else, according to Bettel, there are councils of ministers.