German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday at the EU summit in Brussels. JOHANNA GERON/REUTERS
DECRYPTION – Berlin bent the European Commission on synthetic fuels and scored points against nuclear power.
Germany prevailed. After three weeks of psychodrama, caused by the refusal of the Scholz government to initial the European text on the end of sales of new thermal vehicles in 2035, an agreement was reached on Saturday. The European Commission has accepted Germany’s proposal to allow internal combustion cars beyond 2035 provided they run on synthetic fuels.
A victory for the lobby of the German automobile industry, supported by the Minister of Transport of the liberal party (FDP). Across the Rhine, the Volkswagen group, Porsche, BMW but also Bosch, Siemens Energy and many industrialists united in the eFuel Alliance, have succeeded in making their voices heard, in a context of tensions within the ruling coalition. The regulation on CO emissions2 of cars was submitted to the representatives of the twenty-seven member countries and approved this Monday in Brussels, the legislation must be definitively adopted at a meeting of ministers…
This article is for subscribers only. You have 70% left to discover.
Want to read more?
Unlock all items immediately. Without engagement.
Already subscribed? Login