Although current law allows the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles, including hybrids, in Spain through 2040, that date is likely to be pushed back to 2035.
The European Parliament backed the European Commission’s proposal to end sales of internal combustion engine cars and pickup trucks by 2035. This EU initiative has not yet completed negotiations with the member states.
The 2035 target, which allows only new zero-emission vehicles to be marketed, was approved with 339 votes in favor, 249 against and 24 abstentions at the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg, France.
For the final talks with EU countries, Members of the European Parliament supported a plan to reduce emissions from utility fleets by 15 percent by 2025, 55 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035, compared with 2021, with minibuses facing a decade-long target of a 50 percent reduction.
EU countries are expected to discuss decarbonisation plans for the automotive sector at the Environment Ministers Council in Luxembourg on 29 June.
Cars emit 12 percent of greenhouse gases
Transport ranks among the EU’s largest sources of CO2, with passenger cars responsible for about 12 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
The final agreement will emerge from negotiations in the second half of the year between the Parliament, the Council, and the Commission. When the Czech Republic held the presidency of the Council, the country of origin for the Skoda brand played a role in discussions.
The vote on vehicle CO2 emissions is only one element of the EU’s broader 55 percent reduction package aimed at cutting CO2 emissions by at least 55 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and steering progress toward climate neutrality by 2050. The package covers a wide range of sectors, reflecting the EU’s environmental priorities.
The goals are legally binding, and the 55 percent target serves as the Commission’s roadmap to meet them, extending beyond transport to areas such as agriculture and maritime activities.
Efforts to tighten CO2 regulations for vehicles are part of a broader push to align the EU’s climate policy with its energy and industrial strategies. The ambition is to strengthen the region’s resilience while encouraging cleaner technologies across all sectors.
Air travel and aviation from non-EU countries are also under review, with proposals to extend climate requirements and to charge for CO2 emissions from flights. The Parliament seeks to end free emission allowances for aviation by 2025, with exemptions until 2030 for outermost regions like the Canary Islands.
As discussions continue, the EU’s climate framework has already been reinforced by other initiatives aimed at reducing dependency on external energy sources and strengthening strategic energy security. These developments will drive further changes in the coming months as policymakers work toward a cohesive climate agenda.