Italy-Germany letter to EU: change course on automotive

'We are at a turning point: today a new phase opens for European industry. Italy and Germany stand united to ask the Commission for a change of course on automotive, now. With responsibility, pragmatism and vision'. So says the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, commenting on a joint letter sent by Mimit and the German Ministry of the Economy (Bmwk) to the EU Commission, in support of a shared vision for the future of the European automotive industry. 'With a common and clear position,' Urso continues, 'we point out together the way to a green transition that is truly sustainable from an environmental, social and economic point of view, overcoming the ideological cages of the Green Deal.

The initiative, explains the Mimit in a note, signed by Urso together with Minister Katherina Reiche, follows an intense bilateral debate that began in June with an initial alignment on the issue of decarbonising company fleets and, subsequently, with the definition - at inter-ministerial level - of a shared position in view of the EU strategic dialogue on cars, which the Italian initiative itself finally activated with the 'non-paper' presented a year ago. 'Once again, the European debate has finally been opened thanks to the determination of the Italian government, which has put the concrete needs of our industry back at the centre of the agenda. Now is the time for decisions: while Brussels debates, global competition races. We cannot afford to stand still. Europe must act, and it must act now,' says Minister Urso.