With the new “Strategic Dialogue” the Commission invents a table to bring together manufacturers, unions and politics: there is talk of autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, but the real game is on the modification of the “green rules” which risk sinking the industry
Brussels is back to dealing with cars, this is the news. The doubt that hides behind the official note is whether he will do it by proposing solutions that take care of lowering prices and eliminate fines or bans. At the hearing table there will be: builders and the companies that deal with componentsi unions and of course the politicsthat is, the representatives of the countries that have factories, workers and interests in the sector. “The automotive industry is a European pride and is fundamental to Europe’s prosperity. It drives innovation, supports millions of jobs and is the largest private investor in research and development” recalls the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenwhich however it still doesn’t come out of rhetoric of the major global issues, leaving the official note with the obligation to mention the sometimes vague topics, including “stimulating data-based innovation and digitalisation, relying with foresight on artificial intelligence and autonomous driving”. However, it hides in the folds of the list the real assist that many in Europe were waiting for for months. The Strategic Dialogue will also deal with “Simplify and modernize the regulatory framework“, and this is where it gets to the point. Brussels for the first time in five years to this part admits in writing the possibility of modification the rules that concern the fines related to CO2 emissions to be imposed on car manufacturers, in addition of course to ban on the sale of combustion engine cars starting from 1 January 2035, at least in principle. Brussels is finally moving, with reasons that have little to do with rhetoric, but this must be said.
The European Commission would like to point out that the “Strategic Dialogue” meetings will produce “a series of recommendations that will help build a holistic EU strategy for the sector” and that “The Council and the European Parliament will be closely involved in the process and regularly informed and consulted on the dialogue”. THEhowever, the substance lies elsewhereas demonstrated by the words of German Chancellor Olaf Scholzwhich also officially adds the Germany in the list that already includes Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia And Poland. Now a front that aims to change the legislation called “Corporate Average Fuel Economy” (average company mileage, ed.), abbreviated to a friendlier Cafe, but which can be translated into the obligation imposed on all car manufacturers to market models that consume less fuel, measuring the result in minors CO2 emissions. “In the difficult situation in which the automotive industry finds itself, in many cases globally, but especially in Europe, it makes no sense to burden it now with further fines for not achieving results next year. This must be decided now, soon. And that is why the Commission should find a way so that fines, if necessary, do not affect the financial liquidity of companies, which now have to invest in electromobility, in modern products and vehicles.” Olaf Scholz is of course referring to the emergency starting from 1 January 2025the date from which manufacturers can be fined 95 euros for each gram over the 95 set as the maximum limit, to be multiplied by the total sum of cars sold in the year. According to financial analysts at Barclays bank, car manufacturers are likely to pay overall over 10 billion euros in fines for 2025 only. Except that the “Strategic Dialogue”, behind the scenesleads to quickly using the only possible way out referred to by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, that is, suspending everything by calling into question article 122 paragraph 1 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
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