THEY WANT SMALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES 'MADE IN THE EU' - Filenews 18/3
The importance of the Commission's proposal for the production of small electric vehicles "made in EU" through the so-called supercredits, was highlighted at the Environment Council in Brussels, by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, who chaired the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, and the Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero Emissions and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra.
The Commission's proposal, Mr. Vafeadis noted, provides for the safeguarding of European content in vehicle manufacturing, through the introduction of "made in the European Union" requirements for so-called supercredits for small zero-emission vehicles, as well as for credits related to low-carbon steel.
For his part, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero Emissions and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, stressed the importance of producing small electric vehicles "made in EU" through so-called supercredits, in order to boost industry and create jobs in Europe, while facilitating the transition of consumers to zero-emission vehicles.
The session dealt with the proposal to amend the carbon dioxide emission standards for cars and light commercial vehicles (vans).
As Mr. Vafeadis mentioned during the discussion, the European automotive industry is a key sector for the competitiveness of the European Union, its innovative excellence and the preservation of jobs both in manufacturing and in other sectors of the economy. At the same time, he noted that the industry faces a number of challenges in terms of its competitiveness, both at European and global level.
At the same time, the Minister pointed out that the reductions in emissions from the road transport sector are taking place at a relatively slow pace throughout the European Union, which is linked, among other things, to the increased demand for mobility. As he mentioned, emissions from passenger cars and trucks account for about a fifth of total emissions in the EU.
Referring to the Commission's proposal to amend carbon dioxide emission standards, Mr. Vafeadis noted that it emerged after a series of high-level dialogues between the Commission and industry. He added that the proposal is also linked to the Automotive Action Plan presented last year, as well as discussions among EU leaders who called for the revision of carbon emission standards to be promoted.
The Minister stressed that the proposal is part of the broader package of initiatives for the automotive industry, presented last December and aims both to strengthen the competitiveness of the European automotive industry and to continue the ambitious path towards zero-emission mobility. As he explained, although it is proposed to reduce the target for 2035 to 90%, the goal of climate neutrality is maintained, with the remaining emission percentage of 10% being offset through a number of flexibilities.
Mr. Vafeadis also mentioned that the proposal aims to enhance technological neutrality by providing manufacturers with more options beyond pure battery electric vehicles to achieve their goals, including sustainable renewable fuels and the use of low-carbon steel.
At the same time, he noted that the Commission's proposal provides for the safeguarding of European content in vehicle manufacturing, through the introduction of "made in the European Union" requirements for the so-called supercredits for zero-emission small vehicles, as well as for credits related to low-carbon steel.
He recalled that on March 4, the Commission also presented the proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act, which sets out the framework for "made in the EU" requirements and for the use of low-carbon steel in the context of the proposal for carbon emission standards.
He pointed out that the Presidency proposed that the discussion in the Council should focus on the architecture of the Commission's proposal and in particular on reducing the emissions reduction target for 2035 to 90% and on the introduction of new flexibilities, which could facilitate the achievement of the Union's climate targets, while strengthening the competitiveness of the sector.
To this end, he noted, the Presidency submitted two questions to the member states, with the aim of encouraging the exchange of views and reflecting the positions of the delegations. The Minister indicated that the views and assessments of the member states will be an important guide for the Presidency in taking forward the proposal, with the aim of achieving the greatest possible progress during its mandate.
At the end of the discussion, Mr. Vafeadis said that different views were expressed by the delegations on the approach proposed by the Commission and its level of ambition, as well as on whether the proposed flexibilities strike the right balance.
At the same time, he noted that many delegations raised issues related to the interaction of this proposal with other legislative initiatives of the European Union, pointing out that these interconnections will need to be further examined in the context of the negotiations.
In conclusion, the Minister said that the Presidency will continue to work on the basis of today's discussion, with the aim of paving the way for a balanced compromise between member states.
What Wopke Hoekstra says
For his part, the Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero Emissions and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, referred to the recent adoption of the Climate Law by the Justice and Home Affairs Council and noted that the EU's independence on energy issues remains crucial, especially in the road transport sector. He stressed that transport continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels, which has a climate, commercial and energy dimension.
Mr. Hoekstra presented data for 2025, according to which about 18% of new cars sold are battery-electric, recording a recovery from the previous year, but with significant differences between member states. The Commissioner pointed out that the future of road transport in Europe is electric and that electric vehicles are three times more efficient than conventional ones, economical to use and necessary to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
On CO2 emission standards, Mr. Hoekstra emphasized that they provide a clear long-term signal for zero-emission mobility, drive investment, and support the ongoing structural reform of the industry. In particular, he referred to the Action Plan for the Automotive Industry in Europe and the 2025 Automotive Initiative Package, which include the revision of CO2 standards for cars and light commercial vehicles and targeted modifications for trucks.
The Commissioner noted that the proposed amendments combine ambition and realism, providing flexibility for heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers to meet the 2030 targets. Regarding light commercial vehicles, he underlined that a multiannual compliance regime for the period 2030–2032 and a reduced target are proposed, taking into account the short-term challenges of electromobility.
In addition, Mr. Hoekstra stressed the importance of producing small electric vehicles "made in the EU" through so-called supercredits, in order to strengthen the industry and create jobs in Europe, while at the same time facilitating the transition of consumers to zero-emission vehicles.
Regarding the target for 2035 and beyond, the Commissioner stressed that vehicle manufacturers should reduce emissions by 90%, with the remaining emissions offset through sustainable renewable fuels or the use of low-carbon steel, made in the EU, in line with the Industrial Accelerator Act.
CNA
