The Council of Environment Ministers of the European Union countries has managed, after long discussions, to find an agreement on the package of measures known as Fit for 55 proposed by the European Commission last year which will allow the European Union to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions of at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to reach climate neutrality in 2050.
Within the Fit for 55 packages there are a series of measures that will make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions, including the much-debated one of stopping the sale of endothermic cars from 2035. And finding an agreement on this issue was not easy. As we know, the green light of the European Parliament had highlighted a deep rift between the member countries.
Furthermore, speaking strictly of Italy, the government’s position remarked by the ministers was to focus on technological neutrality to keep the endothermic engines alive and to move the date of the farewell to petrol and diesel from 2035 to 2040. In the last hours, A compromise proposal had also arrived from Germany which provided for the possibility of registering endothermic models from 2035 as long as they only use biofuels or e-fuels.
THE AGREEMENT
In the end, an agreement was found that would satisfy the countries, including Italy, which were asking for greater flexibility and the possibility of also focusing on alternative technologies to electricity. Therefore, on the subject of transport, the European Union has decided to increase the CO2 emissions reduction targets of new cars and vans by 2030, bringing them to 55% for cars and 50% for vans. It also confirmed the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 100% by 2035 for new cars and vans.
However, in 2026 the European Commission will assess the progress made towards achieving the 100% emission reduction targets. At the same time, it will assess the need to review these targets taking into account technological developments, including regard to plug-in hybrid technology and the importance of a viable and socially just transition towards zero emissions.
In other words, in 2026 it will be verified whether the transition process is proceeding as desired or whether there will be a need to review the objectives by also focusing on other technologies such as a hybrid.
The European environment ministers have also approved a five-year extension of the exemption from CO2 obligations granted to so-called “niche” manufacturers, ie those who produce fewer than 10,000 cars each year, until the end of 2035. Now that this agreement has been found, negotiations with the European Parliament can begin to reach an agreement on the final texts.
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