Environment ministers of European Union member states agreed on Wednesday, 29 June, that the union is to cease sales of new cars with internal combustion engines by 2035 in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions to zero.
This proposal was first suggested in July 2021. this means that from 2035 onward sales of petrol or diesel cars will be ceased and a full transition to electric cars will the implemented EU-wide.
The goal of this decisions is helping Europe reach its climate goals, especially in regards to carbon neutrality by 2050.
Following a request from multiple member states, Germany and Italy included, EU environment ministers agreed to allow the use of alternative technologies in the future, such as synthetic fuels or hybrid automobiles, if their use can help end greenhouse gas emissions.
During their meeting in Luxembourg, environment ministers also agreed to extend until the end of 2035 the exception of commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions provided to so-called niche manufacturers or those that manufacture less than 10 000 cars a year. This exception mainly applies to manufacturers of luxury cars.
This agreement of EU ministers will need to be discussed by the European Parliament to reach a final compromise.
«This is a major challenge for our automotive industry,» admits Minister for the Ecological Transition of France Agnes Pannier-Runacher, who hosted the meeting of EU ministers. She said this is a necessity, considering the competition with China and the US.