The resistance is organized. "The Czech Republic has convened a specialized ministerial meeting on (the future standard) Euro 7 and (automotive) emission limit values on Monday in Strasbourg, together with the European Commission," said a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Transport. German Minister Volker Wissing (FDP, liberals) "will gladly respond to this invitation", organized in the eastern French city shortly before the start of a plenary session of the European Parliament, he said. added. Poland will also participate in the discussion, diplomatic sources told AFP. According to the Politico site, a representative from Italy is also expected.
This meeting comes as Germany on Tuesday blocked a vote of the 27 member states, supposed to be a formality, to ratify the ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines in 2035. This vote was postponed sine die, the Germany refusing to give the green light. As Italy and Poland had long opposed the text, and Bulgaria wished to abstain, the necessary qualified majority (at least 55% of the States representing 65% of the EU population) was not more united. The text, which would in fact impose 100% electric engines, had however already been the subject of an agreement in October between Member States and the European Parliament, before being formally approved in mid-February by MEPs.
To justify its about-face, which is extremely rare at this stage of the procedure, Berlin demanded that the European Commission present a proposal paving the way for vehicles running on synthetic fuels, including after 2035. This technology, which is still under development , is defended in particular by top-of-the-range German manufacturers, with a view to extending the use of internal combustion engines. Another concern for these countries is the Euro 7 emissions standard, proposed in November by the European Commission and which would be binding on the automotive industry from 2025. Brussels notably proposes to make vehicle emissions tests more conform to real driving conditions and set limits on particulate emissions caused by brake and tire wear, in order to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from passenger cars and commercial vehicles by 35% light compared to the previous Euro 6 standard. This proposal is fiercely rejected by manufacturers, who want a minimum standard for these internal combustion engines that are supposed to disappear in 2035. According to them, the proposed Euro 7 standard would lead to a sharp increase in the price of vehicles , at the risk of further crippling an already struggling European market.
