EU countries find a compromise when it comes to phasing out combustion engines – with significant restrictions

Created: 06/29/2022, 06:30

By: Felix Busjaeger

The combustion engine is on the verge of extinction at EU level.

The EU heads of countries decide on a ban on combustion engines.

(Archive image) © Ole Spata/dpa

Negotiations went on late into the night, but in the end there was a compromise that provided for significant restrictions for new cars with combustion engines.

Luxembourg/Brussels - Smelly cars could be a thing of the past in a few years: EU countries have voted to ban cars with internal combustion engines from 2035 - but with significant restrictions.

After the EU Parliament voted in favor of the ban on combustion engines a few days ago, the country heads also decided on a corresponding regulation.

At the federal level, the traffic light had found a common line shortly before the decision was made by the EU states.

A dispute over the combustion engine had been simmering between the FDP, Greens and SPD for a long time - the Liberals rejected a strict ban from 2035.

Decision made: Environment ministers of the EU countries agree on a ban on combustion engines

On Wednesday night, the environment ministers of the EU countries agreed, among other things, on a common position on the reform of emissions trading and a ban on internal combustion engines.

But the current result stipulates that although the combustion engine should come to an end in 2035, vehicles that have already been registered should then be able to continue driving.

It is also being examined whether there could be exceptions for combustion engines that are operated with synthetic fuels. 

The EU Parliament had previously made the demands clearer and had called for a de facto end for combustion engines in the EU.

EU countries decide to end combustion engines from 2035: FDP had started a dispute in Germany

On the morning before the crucial meeting of the EU countries, Environment Minister Steffi Lemke spoke out in favor of phasing out new combustion engines in cars from 2035, despite the fierce criticism from the FDP: "Germany supports the proposal as presented by the Commission in the 'Fit for 55' package,” said the politician.

The decision to phase out combustion engines is part of the so-called Fit-for-55 package, an EU climate protection package.

"If the package includes what we want, no cars that emit CO2 after 2035, then we will agree," said the Green politician on Tuesday in the

. 

Criticism of the actions of Environment Minister Lemke originally came from Finance Minister and FDP leader Christian Lindner, among others.

"Today's statements by the Environment Minister are surprising because they do not correspond to the current agreements," said Lindner of the German Press Agency.

Combustion engines with CO2-free fuels should also be possible as a technology in all vehicles after 2035, was the position of the minister.

For this reason, the FDP-led ministries initially did not agree to such voting behavior.

Only in the late afternoon did the coalition come to an agreement

Scholz denies the dispute in the traffic lights because of the combustion engine off: Robert Habeck was ready for compromises

Climate and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had already shown himself willing to compromise in the dispute over the German position on the combustion engine end on Monday evening.

"Europe is a living compromise machine, and we are working on it," said the Green politician and advocated that the EU states should find a good solution together.

On Tuesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) rejected the fact that there was a significant dispute between the FDP and Lemke about the possible end of the combustion engine from 2035: The coalition agreed to act as one, the SPD politician said in his final press conference of the G7 summit at Schloss Elmau.

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Scholz named the coalition agreement of the traffic light government, in which the plans are described in detail, as the basis for the German decision in the vote of the EU states.

However, Scholz also emphasized in the run-up to the EU summit that although the focus is on zero-emission drives, the possibility of testing e-fuels should also be kept open.

“As a government, we have always presented this to the European institutions, the Commission and the Council.”

Decision on combustion engine off: result was not certain until the end

The fact that the EU states would decide to phase out combustion engines from 2035 was controversial until shortly before the vote.

A few weeks ago, many observers of politics were still assuming that the EU countries would support such a decision.

But the dispute between the federal government recently shook the vote: Lindner and Transport Minister Volker Wissing had called for a decisive change in the project and thus opposed the original plans of the traffic light coalition.

"It is likely that others will follow if Berlin does not vote for a ban on new cars with internal combustion engines by 2035," an EU diplomat recently told the German Press Agency.

If the EU states had finally decided against phasing out combustion engines, negotiations with the EU Parliament would have been necessary, since the parliamentarians had already spoken out in favor of a ban.

Important for consumers in the EU: The ban on combustion engines only affects new cars.

Older vehicles may continue to be operated.