Majority of EU countries in favor of stricter CO2 rules for trucks and buses After criticism: Berlinale does not invite AfD politicians to opening gala

There is an agreement in the EU on stricter CO2 limits for trucks and buses. The compromise was on the verge, and Germany’s agreement only came at the last minute.

Following a last-minute agreement within the federal government, a majority of EU countries have approved plans for stricter CO₂ standards for trucks and buses. The Belgian presidency of the EU Council announced this on Friday. The project was surprisingly jeopardized because the federal government, consisting of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP, only agreed to approve the new rules at the last minute.

The so-called fleet limits regulate how much climate-damaging CO₂ vehicles may emit in the future. Under the agreement, CO₂ emissions from coaches and trucks must be reduced by 90 percent by 2040 – compared to 2019. The deal now agreed by EU countries must also be approved by the European Parliament’s plenary.

The decision was – again – preceded by a coalition dispute in Berlin. Negotiators in Brussels had already agreed in principle on the project on January 18 and it was assumed in Brussels that the German government coalition consisting of the SPD, Greens and FDP would agree to the plans for the new CO₂ emission standards.

Afterwards, however, participants at a European FDP party conference spoke out strictly against fleet restrictions and the FDP-led Ministry of Transport vetoed the federal government’s planned approval, citing, among other things, a lack of regulation for synthetic fuels . This was only withdrawn after the Federal Chancellery became involved.

The auto industry was pressing for a decision

In addition, the Association of the Automotive Industry, among others, insisted on reliable decisions. The German car industry fundamentally welcomes the fact that the EU Council and the EU Parliament have reached an agreement on CO2 fleet regulation for heavy-duty vehicles, the report said. “It sets a clear timetable to promote the implementation of zero-emission solutions in the European market. Reliability is of great importance for companies in the German automotive industry,” the report said.

According to information from government circles, there should be a supplement. That is why binding rules must be introduced to allow trucks that can demonstrably only refuel with e-fuels for an indefinite period. Advocacy group eFuel Alliance said: “We now have yet another consideration that ultimately goes nowhere and we must hope that the European Commission will pick up this ball and put forward further proposals for the inclusion of renewable fuels.” A similar compromise already existed in the dispute over the end of internal combustion engines.

A spokesperson for Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) said on Friday that the planned regulations on CO2 fleet limits do not impose requirements on specific forms of driving. “The regulations only look at vehicle exhaust and do not prioritize any fuel option.” In this regard, she has always been open to any technology that does not produce CO2 in the exhaust gases. There is a lot of room for e-fuels and biofuels.

The fleet limits for heavy commercial vehicles are not the only EU project that has been the subject of disagreement within the coalition in recent meters. There was also uncertainty about Germany’s position on the EU supply chain law and the artificial intelligence law due to concerns raised by the FDP. Because the German government – ​​including under Angela Merkel – often failed to agree on a common position, an abstention in Brussels is also called a “German vote”.

The spokesperson for the SPD faction’s transport policy, Isabel Cademartori, sees the German approval of new CO₂ requirements as an important signal. “The agreement now provides urgently needed certainty for the industry through clear framework conditions,” she said. (saw/sda/awp/dpa)