Brussels (ANSA) – The EU Commission is firmly standing by its decision to ban diesel and petrol engines by 2035, according to Vice President for Clean Transition, Teresa Ribera. This statement comes in response to criticism from Giorgia Meloni, who claimed that EU automotive regulations could “bring the sector to its knees.”
During her visit to the ArcelorMittal plant in Gent, Ribera rejected any notion of a reversal on this issue, stating, “A U-turn is not something we are considering, and I would say it is not something that practically anyone is considering.”
However, there may be some flexibility in the Commission’s approach. A proposed compromise involves delaying penalties that are set to begin next year for manufacturers failing to meet the 15% emissions reduction target for new vehicles by 2025. This request has emerged from countries including Italy and the Czech Republic, who have outlined their concerns in an informal document (‘non-paper’) supported by Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Poland. These nations are seeking to postpone the penalties, which could total as much as 15 billion euros.
The seven EU countries are also advocating for an expedited review of the regulations, to take place at the beginning of 2025, aiming to create favorable conditions for achieving the ultimate target by 2035. Italy is poised to firmly defend its position on this matter, with backing from the Popular Party, which plans to vote on a supportive document in assembly on Wednesday.
Meloni assured that efforts will be made to align the ecological transition with economic and social sustainability, stating, “We will work to ensure that the ecological transition gets back in line with economic and social sustainability.”
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