The EU Council on Tuesday advanced a regulation that tightens CO2 emission standards for new cars and vans, aiming for a 100 percent reduction in emissions for these vehicles from 2035 onward.
De-fossil fuel package
Supporters say the change fulfills the bloc’s Fit for 55 commitments and will spur investment in cleaner technologies, fostering a fossil-free future across European industry.
Romina Pourmokhtari, Sweden’s Minister for Climate and Environment, welcomed the move, emphasizing its potential to accelerate innovation and decarbonization across sectors.
Minister Anna Moskwa noted that Poland opposed the ban on selling new combustion engine cars after 2035, highlighting a broader debate within the EU about the pace and scope of transition.
Some critics argue that the process has been opaque and dominated by market concerns from certain member states, calling for a more balanced, just transition that weighs technology choices against social and regional impacts.
Suitable for 55 goals
The regulation sets specific targets: a 55 percent reduction in CO2 emissions for new passenger cars and a 50 percent reduction for new vans in 2030–2034 compared with 2021 levels, followed by a complete phase-out of CO2 emissions for both vehicle categories from 2035 onward.
Duopoly: Berlin and Brussels
The adoption of the rules, which effectively restrict the registration of new internal combustion engine cars from 2035, has faced scrutiny after Germany raised objections and sought an exemption for synthetic fuels known as e-fuels.
Negotiations between Berlin and Brussels resulted in a provision that tasks the European Commission with proposing a framework for registering vehicles that run exclusively on CO2-neutral fuels after 2035.
In 2026, the Commission will conduct a detailed assessment of progress toward the 100 percent target, review emissions reductions, and evaluate whether adjustments are needed.