The debate around the ban on the sale of cars with combustion engines continues to raise its tension in Europe. According The country, The European Commission proposed to Germany to create a new category of internal combustion vehicles that run on synthetic fuel. In this way, then, Berlin would get away with it.
In mid-February, Europe banned the sale of gasoline and diesel cars from 2035. Although the rules had already been discussed long in advance, an unexpected obstacle stood in the way: Germany. This country, currently led by Olaf Scholz, believes that the internal combustion engine still has a chance amid policies in favor of the environment. All thanks, of course, to synthetic fuel.
Obviously, having a leading country in the automotive industry against you is not just anything. For this reason, always according to the aforementioned media, the European Commission proposed, very discreetly, to introduce a new category of internal combustion vehicles.
The idea, moreover, would be to avoid the displeasure of all the countries involved, since the Brussels proposal does not require modifying the regulation vetoed by Germany. «Community and diplomatic sources assure that not a single comma of the original document will be touched. But made the rule, made the trap, and it would not be the first time that Brussels has found a back door to negotiate, without ever saying that word, a way out of an impasse,” he explains. The country.
By creating a new category for synthetic fuel cars, the ban would not apply to them; only for those that run on gasoline and diesel.
Germany still does not accept the proposal
Although the European Commission has been slightly flexible in this regard, they have made it clear to Germany that the only way to keep the combustion engine alive is with synthetic fuel.
It is worth mentioning that, although the proposal has already been in the hands of the Teutonic authorities since the previous week, has not yet been accepted. The truth is that within the German government there has not been a clear consensus on what it intends to obtain from the European Commission. While the Ministry of the Environment would be willing to accept the proposal on synthetic fuel, the liberal faction is looking for other types of solutions.
Another interesting point is that the European Commission is managing it in a rather discreet way. Of course, they do not want to create a scandal or make the other countries of the bloc, those that are totally committed to electric mobility, feel betrayed.
France asks Germany to stop hindering the agreement
Just today, on the eve of a meeting to be held by the leaders of France and Germany, Catherine Colonna, the French minister of foreign affairs, asked the Teutons to stop obstructing an agreement that was already agreed.
“We reached an agreement that there would be no thermal vehicles by 2035. I think we should stick to what we agreed to, and I have no doubt that the Germans are going to reach an agreement within their coalition.”
Some car manufacturers that have already turned their strategy towards electrification do not look favorably on German action either. “Now is not the time to back down and block science-based climate targets for our industry. This is not the time to put national political interests before the health and well-being of our planet and of the citizens of the EU and, indeed, of future generations. Now is the time for strong, decisive and forward-thinking policy and leadership,” said Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo.
Germany’s goal is for the situation to be resolved just before the aforementioned summit. However, the fact that they cannot even order their claims internally makes it doubtful that there will be an agreement soon that satisfies all parties.