EU leaders: forward with review of petrol and diesel stop regulation
The Commission is called upon to review the emission rules without abandoning the 2035 target
At the European Council on 23 October, EU leaders welcomed "the Commission's intention to push ahead with the revision foreseen in the regulation on CO₂ performance for cars and vans" and called for its "rapid presentation, taking into account technology neutrality and European content". This was stated in the official conclusions of the summit dedicated to competitiveness and green transition.
The current regulation, EU 2019/631, stipulates that by 2035 only new zero-emission vehicles may be registered, with intermediate reduction targets of 55 per cent by 2030 for cars and 50 per cent for vans. These targets remain formally in force. The announced revision does not aim to call them into question, but to assess their implementation in the light of technological progress and economic conditions in the sector.
The reference to 'technological neutrality' reflects the political will not to favour just one solution - such as battery electrics - but to keep the way open for innovations such as e-fuels, advanced biofuels and hydrogen, as long as they are compatible with climate neutrality by 2050. The Commission will now have to translate this balance between climate ambition and industrial competitiveness into a concrete proposal.
The European position comes at a time of intense pressure on the automotive industry: ACEA calls for more flexibility and investment in charging infrastructure, while environmental organisations fear a slowdown in the transition. Germany and Italy insist on a technology-neutral approach, while other member states fear that any openness will dilute environmental goals.
