The European Union approved a death certificate yesterday Thursday for new vehicles with internal combustion engines in 2035: MEPs and member governments have reached agreement on this rule, a symbolic measure aimed at fulfilling European commitments to climate neutrality.

French MEP Pascal Canfen (Renew Europe), Chairman of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, tweeted about the “historic EU climate decision” after hours of negotiations concluded.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed this “decisive milestone” in the EU’s climate ambitions, which she said will “strengthen innovation and European industrial and technological leadership.”

The European auto industry said it was ready to “take on the challenge” after this “unprecedented decision”, calling on the EU to set “conditions” it describes as necessary to achieve the goal, in particular the installation of an adequate network. chargers for electric vehicle batteries.

The approved text is based on a proposal submitted by the Commission in July 2021 and calls for zero CO2 emissions of new cars sold in Europe from 2035.

Which means the virtual cessation of sales of new petrol or diesel light commercial vehicles in the European Union from this year, as well as hybrid vehicles (gasoline or diesel + batteries), or in other words, how they will be sold only 100% of new electric vehicles.

With the car, the main mode of transportation for Europeans, accounting for just under 15% of the EU’s total CO2 emissions, the new rule is expected to contribute to the old continent’s climate goals of climate neutrality. with a horizon of 2050.

This is the first agreement on measures included in the European climate package (“Fit for 55”), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 in EU member states.

It provides for a 55% reduction in carbon emissions in 2030 for new cars and 50% for new vans compared to 2021.

Exemptions are provided, in particular, for car manufacturers that are characterized as “niche” (i.e. covering a specialized, small market sector) and those that produce less than 10,000 cars per year until the end of 2035. This clause, also known as the “Ferrari Amendment”, mainly concerns luxury and/or sports car manufacturers.

The negotiators also agreed to “begin the process of formulating a legislative proposal in 2025 to establish a Just Transition Fund” for the automotive sector, Pascal Kanfen added.

The creation of this fund was requested by the European Parliament to allow “to ensure that the social and economic costs of the transition to “zero-emissions mobility” are considered comprehensively.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the European automotive industry directly or indirectly employs more than 13 million Europeans, in other words, it accounts for 7% of jobs in the EU.

A proposal from the Commission is expected in 2023 to speed up the corporate fleet with zero-emission vehicles, Mr Kanfeng said.

The European Parliament and the European Council will have to formally ratify this agreement in order for it to enter into force.

Source: APE-MPE, AFP.