Ministers of the EU Council have overwhelmingly come to a compromise on a ban on combustion engine cars by 2035.
According to Clean Energy Wire, the 27 EU energy and environment ministers came to an agreement on the clean energy transition bills late Wednesday night.
The EU energy and environment minister had met in Luxembourg since Monday 27 June 2022.
The council met to finalize approach on tightening energy efficiency directive as part of the Fit for 55 packages.
Per the agreement, EU member states agree to phase out all fossil fueled passenger cars on the agreed deadline.
Ministers also concluded deliberations on emissions trade as well as a ” Social Climate Fund”.
The Social Climate Fund is projected to mobilize some 59 billion euros between 2027 and 2032.
It is proposed that the fund be used for investments in efficient buildings and lower emission mobility.
The fund will also be used to mitigate the impacts of cost on CO2 in the transport sector.
Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania battled for delay of the ban till 2040.
Germany on the other hand suggested e-fuel cars be considered in the 2035 climate-neutral agenda.
But despite diverse views on the subject, the 2035 ban was maintained by the EU Council.
All proposals regarding the agreements must go through negotiations before European Parliament.
The ministers have also tasked the European Commission to ascertain whether CO2-neutral fuel does not conflict with EU law by 2026.
Whilst some clean energy advocates and negotiators welcomed the compromise, others described the development as ” highly problematic”.
Germany’s minister of environment, Steffi Lemke said the council has given the car industry the needed planning security.
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” We are technology neutral. We only want zero-emission cars”, European Climate Commissioner, also Frans Timmermans stressed.
Policy Director of NGO Germanwatch on the other hand described the outcome of the meeting “somewhat disappointing”.
Christoph Bals said “Germany had contributed to watering down the EU climate package in several parts. Giving industrial companies free emission allowances up till 2035 was showing lack of ambition on the parts of the environment ministers”.
