The end of cars with combustion engines is actually a done deal.
But Transport Minister Wissing is fighting back and is now receiving surprising backing from Economics Minister Robert Habeck.
Brussels – In his opposition to an EU ban on combustion engines from 2035, Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) is supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, led by Robert Habeck (Greens).
Economic State Secretary Sven Giegold (Greens) said on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Brussels on Thursday: “We support the end of old, conventional combustion engines.
But we want a solution for combustion engines that are only operated with sustainable e-fuels outside of the fleet limits, i.e. outside of this law.” Giegold demanded that the EU Commission now have to convince all coalition partners that such measures are being taken.
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Volker Wissing and Robert Habeck: The FDP Minister of Transport has the backing of the Green Ministry of Economic Affairs in the e-fuel discussion.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner reiterated the FDP's no to a complete ban on new combustion vehicles in the EU in an interview with the Funke media group.
"It is our goal that new cars with combustion engines will still be registered in Germany after 2035," said the FDP leader.
"However, these vehicles will then have to run on climate-friendly eco-fuel." Newly registered combustion vehicles would remain an exception after 2035.
However, this technology will continue to play a major role worldwide, "the technological know-how must therefore be preserved in an export country like Germany".
SPD is upset about the e-fuel debate
The third coalition partner SPD was upset about the discussion in the newspapers of the Funke group.
"It's just an attempt to save the combustion engine, while even the industry is already creating other facts," said deputy parliamentary group leader Detlef Müller.
"We support a clear decision at EU level that does not call the end of combustion engines into question." E-fuels are expensive, inefficient and only available to a limited extent.
"We simply won't achieve our climate goals in transport."
Controversy over approval for e-fuel combustion engines
Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU states had already agreed in October that from 2035 only new cars that do not emit greenhouse gases during operation may be sold in the EU.
It is planned that the Council of Member States will finally vote on it next Tuesday.
Wissing threatened to veto it.
His reasoning: The EU Commission has not yet submitted a proposal on how to deal with combustion engines that use climate-friendly fuels such as e-fuels after 2035.
This was part of the agreement in the Council of EU States in June 2022, with which the FDP could be persuaded to agree within the federal government.
E-fuels are criticized because they are currently produced in an energy-intensive process.
The federal government hopes that this will change by 2035.
Greens believe in e-fuel solution
Lindner criticizes: "Unfortunately, the EU Commission has not taken any steps to seriously examine exceptions for combustion engines that only run on eco-fuel in its ban plans." It is also unlikely "that the Commission will do what it hasn't done for months has done will do within the next few days".
Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Giegold was more optimistic on Thursday.
He believes that a solution can be found if the EU Commission appears credible to the federal government and the German ministers.
Difficult talks were going on at the moment.
(dpa/rowa)
List of rubrics: © Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
