Stop to petrol and diesel cars, but the European Parliament helps heavy industries

Road that alternates ups and downs that of the packet Fit for 55 presented on 14 July 2021 by the European Commission and voted for the first time on 8 June by Parliament. As is known, on that date came the approval of the proposal to stop the sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, but also the rejection of the parallel reform of the CO2 emission permit market (Ets – “Emission Trade System “) to incentivize industries to further reduce their emissions and invest in greener technologies. Today, precisely on this second trend and with a new vote, the Strasbourg assembly approved a widely revised text. Beyond the tactics of political forces and regulatory technicalities, it is precisely the revision of the initial text that represents a very significant fact, because for the first time we arrive at a negotiation on what had seemed so far the inviolable principles of the package Fit for 55. A precedent, therefore, that many are hoping for as a signal of a lower future rigidity towards the electric turnaround of the car, seen so far by the Community authorities as mandatory by 2035.

The package comes loose

–

The painstakingly obtained agreement today between the Socialists & Democrats, Renew and EPP groups brings a rather in-depth review of the strict limits imposed by the Commission on companies deemed to cause the greatest number of carbon dioxide emissions, which will continue to receive substantially more credits free of CO2, essentially an authorization to emit greenhouse gases until 2032 at no additional cost. Just remember that the plan Fit for 55 consists of eight different initiatives which overall aim to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and then to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. At this point, however, it is complex to pretend to apply rigor to the automotive sector total, with the elimination of emissions to the car sector by 2035. Just last June 8 the Parliament had significantly rejected the amendment that proposed to lower the target on CO2 reduction from 100% to 90%, thus still leaving a lifetime a band of cars with internal combustion engines. Moreover, the negotiations in Europe are affected by the changes in the orientations of opinion in the major continental countries, first of all Germany. “Within the federal government it will not be possible to accept this European legislation”, reiterated on Tuesday 21 the German Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, who added that with a ban, the combustion engine will not be developed further, at least not in Europe and in Germany, and it would be a mistake: “Unfortunately, the EU parliament’s proposal is not technologically open”. The ball now passes to the European Congregation, which is set to meet from 24 June.