Germany vetoed the end of combustion engines from 2035, Austria followed suit. But the Commission’s compromise proposal is apparently not well received in Germany – at least by the FDP.
In the dispute for the end of combustion engines from 2035, the EU Commission approached Germany. The Commission wants to continue to allow cars with combustion engines, as long as they can only be fueled with so-called e-fuels, according to a regulatory proposal by the Brussels authorities, presented this Tuesday to the Portal news agency.
However, the prerequisite must be that the new category of vehicles can only be operated on synthetic fuels generated with the help of electricity. Cars would have to be able to technically recognize when, for example, petrol or diesel has been filled and then switch off automatically. This car type class could also be registered again after 2035.
The problem of e-fuels
The used car fleet could already continue to be supplied with e-fuels in the current legal situation. Until now, however, they have hardly been produced and are considered scarce, expensive and inefficient. Therefore, in accordance with the Commission’s intention, they should be reserved primarily for maritime or air traffic that cannot be operated directly with electricity.
However, German Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) insists that the new vehicles can also run on e-fuels. He had therefore surprisingly announced a veto against Germany’s approval of the largely unified end of combustion engines. As other countries, including Austria, have also joined, there is currently no majority for the original plans.
As “Spiegel” reports, Wissing is also likely to reject the EU Commission’s compromise proposal – as is FDP head and Finance Minister Christian Lindner. The reasons for the rejection are unclear. Officials at the German Ministry of Transport are working on an alternative draft, which is expected to be submitted in the coming days.
Dispute over combustion engines also weighs on the German coalition
Wissing pressed a passage in negotiations between the Commission, the states and parliament last year, whereby the Commission was asked to come up with a proposal on e-fuels. This passage is not legally binding. The Commission also wanted to publish it only after the formal decision of the states. But Wissing requires prior arrangement. Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens), who is behind the commission here, is really in charge of the process. However, in case of dispute in the coalition, Germany can only abstain from voting in Brussels, which in this case is equivalent to a no.
France was bored with the hangman game. Foreign Minister Laurence Boone called for regulations negotiated last year between member states, the Commission and Parliament to be implemented in this way. “We must fulfill the agreements. I have no doubt that the Germans will reach an agreement with their colleagues.”
>> Article in “Spiegel”
(APA/Portal/dpa)