Seven EU states warn of climate penalties for car manufacturers
Published: Thursday, Nov 28th 2024, 17:50
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Seven EU states fear that climate penalties will have a negative impact on the already ailing European car industry. These include Italy, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia.
"Such penalties would severely restrict the industry's ability to invest in innovation and development and thus impair Europe's competitiveness on the global stage," says the paper published on Thursday. A new assessment of the requirements is urgently needed.
Under current EU legislation, car manufacturers face fines if they exceed the so-called fleet limits for CO2 emissions. The limits are set to become stricter in 2025. Manufacturers will have to pay a fine for emitting too much CO2. The paper from the seven EU member states urges a "pragmatic timetable for implementation".
Habeck open to a different approach to penalties
German Economics Minister Robert Habeck recently said that he could imagine that possible fines in 2025 could be offset against overfulfilment of the quotas by car manufacturers in 2026 and 2027. FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr sees Habeck's proposal as a sham solution, as the fleet limits will not be met in the coming years either.
When asked why Germany did not also support the letter, State Secretary Bernhard Kluttig said on the fringes of a meeting of EU economy ministers in Brussels: "It is important that the automotive industry also achieves the targets. CSU MEP and EPP group leader Manfred Weber told Focus: "If jobs are wobbling, as they are now, the state cannot ask the companies to pay significantly."
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