The letter was signed six heads of government: Donald Tusk, Viktor Orbán, Robert Fico, Giorgia Meloni, Petr Fiala and Rosen Zelazkov.
Read also: The European Commission is planning a revolution in corporate fleets. The industry is sounding the alarm about threats
The rest of the text below the video
Donald Tusk and other leaders write to the EC. They warn about combustion cars
The document – the content of which was seen by PAP – indicates that both the discussions during the last EU summit and the recent debate on the revision of EU climate law revealed the need to move away from “ideological dogmatism”. As the prime ministers argue, the current approach has led some industries to near collapse, with minimal impact on global emissions reductions.
Read also: Will the EU give up on electric cars? The German pressure brings results
The signatories demand full implementation of the principle of technological neutrality, emphasizing that in transport decarbonization “there is no one miracle solution”. In their opinion imposing one technology on manufacturers – primarily electromobility – limits innovation, research and competition, and particularly hits the European automotive industry. The letter emphasizes that the industry is “dramatically suffering” from existing regulations that weaken its position in the global race.
Ban on combustion cars and include other technologies
The Prime Ministers call for the announced revision of CO₂ emission standards for new passenger cars and delivery vans maintain space for various technologies after 2035: plug-in hybrids, fuel cell vehicles, electric cars with the so-called range extenders and solutions that may appear in the coming years. They also emphasize the role of low-emission and renewable fuels in the transformation of transport, proposing, among others, recognition of biofuels as CO₂ neutral fuels.
Donald Tusk and Viktor Orban at the summit in Brussels
|
GettyImages
The document also includes a proposal to revise the regulations regarding emission standards for heavy goods vehicles ease the pressure on producers and reduce the risk of fines. The prime ministers also criticized the elements of the Clean Industrial Deal relating to road transport, arguing that The European Commission should instead focus on promoting good practices, incentive systems and support programs — while maintaining technological neutrality.
A turning point for the automotive industry in Europe
In the conclusion of the letter, the heads of government emphasized that Europe is at a “turning point” for both the automotive industry and climate policy. “We can and must achieve our climate goals without destroying competitiveness. There is nothing green in the industrial desert,” they wrote, calling on Brussels to take a more pragmatic approach to transport transformation.
