A pitcher of clear water on the decarbonization of road transport in Europe. With a path seemingly clear and almost irreversible toward banning petrol cars by 2035, the European Union now faces a moment of reconsideration as diesel and hybrid vehicles could complicate the momentum. At the last moment, several countries, including Germany, voiced objections and now threaten to unsettle this pivotal step aimed at lowering global warming emissions.
Two weeks ago, the European Parliament approved the final text that emerged from a consensus among all member states on a ban on dirty fuel cars by 2035. It took substantial effort to iron out the differences across states. Yet the plan appeared connected and ready for the final seal. The only missing step remained: final approval by the Council, which gathers the ambassadors of the 27 member states, and that gathering took place this Friday.
Germany, Italy, and Poland surprised observers by pushing for a delay in voting on the ban, each for distinct reasons. In the end, Germany shifted its stance from a traditionally positive position to a more cautious one, casting doubt on the text’s fate.
Germany has now not only allowed electric cars from 2035 but has also begun to implement it, as various media outlets reported. Some ecological fuels could also be utilized, though they require greater flexibility in policy and market structure. The Italian government, now led by a far right coalition, aligned with Germany in this stance.
If the text remained on the agenda this Friday, it faced the risk of rejection. The chair of the Council chose to withdraw the proposal to keep negotiations open and seek a deal that could prevent a defeat of the agreement. Poland and Hungary have consistently opposed the plan.
The Council reiterated that the text does not explicitly name electric or hydrogen vehicles, but instead prohibits any car sold within the EU from emitting CO2 after 2035.
Disputes within the German government, especially within the Liberal Party which governs transport, contribute to the current uncertainty about the outcome. The liberal wing wants to allow vehicles powered by synthetic fuels, or e-fuels, to continue to be marketed in the EU beyond 2035. This stance clashes with the Greens in the same coalition who supported the originally agreed proposal.
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Note: the environmental department remains focused on a pathway that reduces emissions while ensuring market viability, energy security, and social acceptance across member states. The negotiations continue to weigh the urgency of rapid decarbonization against the practicalities of industrial adaptation and consumer choice.