Conservatives and Social Democrats Put Jobs at Risk
Phase-out of Combustion Engine
With the support of both Conservatives and Social Democrats, a majority within the Committees on Industry and Transport voted today (Thursday, October 22) to approve an agreement, reached late Monday night, to move away from the planned phase-out of combustion engines by 2035. A vote in the lead committee, the Committee on the Environment, is expected to take place on November 4.
Greens/EFA Group President Terry Reintke, criticizes this departure from the combustion engine phase-out:
“Weakening CO2 limits for cars is a gift to the Chinese automotive industry. The deal on internal combustion engines, struck between conservatives, socialists, and liberals, further dilutes the European Commission’s already watered-down proposal and sets a dangerous downward spiral in motion. This automotive agreement hinders Europe’s potential to be a global leader in electric vehicles and climate action.
“More than 35,000 people died this summer as a result of devastating heatwaves, this must be translated into concrete climate action.
“Europe possesses the brilliant minds and the technological know-how to become a world market leader in electromobility - we must use this potential.”
Michael Bloss MEP, Greens/EFA Group shadow rapporteur for CO2 emission standards for cars, comments on what he describes as a poor deal for Europe’s automotive industry:
“This is a bad deal for Europe’s automotive industry and a good deal for China. By betting on the combustion engine, Social Democrats and Conservatives are stalling the transition to electric mobility and creating chaos instead of providing planning certainty. Any factory that fails to switch to electric vehicles today faces the prospect of long-term closure. If Europe’s car manufacturers do not change course now, they will go down with the combustion engine.
“Conservatives and Social Democrats are putting jobs at risk. For over a century, Europe has built the best cars in the world, a lead it could have carried over into the electric era. Instead, Conservatives and Social Democrats are handing over leadership in automotive manufacturing to China.”
