The European Parliament approved, in a final vote on Tuesday, the draft regulations ending the sale of new thermal engine vehicles in 2035. This is an emblematic text for European climate objectives. Despite the opposition of the EPP, the main formation in the European Parliament, the text was adopted by 340 votes for, 279 votes against and 21 abstentions.
“We have reached a historic agreement, which reconciles the automobile and the climate, two enemy brothers”, rejoiced the ecologist MEP Karima Delli, president of the transport committee. The text plans to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars and vans in Europe to zero from 2035. This amounts to a de facto halt in sales of new petrol and diesel cars and light commercial vehicles in the European Union ( EU) on that date, as well as hybrids (petrol-electric), in favor of 100% electric vehicles.
Objective 55% less greenhouse gases compared to 1990
These regulations, proposed by the European Commission in July 2021, were the subject of negotiations between the Parliament and the Council of the EU, which had reached an agreement in October 2022. The Council (representing the Member States) will still have to formally approve the text for it to enter into force.
This is the first agreement on a text of the European climate package intended to reduce the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. It endorses the CO2 emissions reduction target for 2030 of -55% for new cars and -50% for new vans, compared to 2021.
“Our industry is ready to take up the challenge of delivering zero-emission vehicles,” said Sigrid de Vries, chief executive of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), in a statement. “All the efforts and investments of the automotive industry are directed towards zero-emission mobility. It is essential that all EU policies and regulations align with and support this objective,” she added.
“The automotive industry generates 12.5 million jobs in Europe. We cannot afford to play sorcerer’s apprentices with this sector, ”said Nathalie Colin-Oesterlé, from the EPP group, opposed to the text. “The transition must be made with and not against this sector, so as not to generate human and social dramas. “.