Auto fighting took over

The issue of an end to new exhaust cars in the EU from 2035 is not officially on the agenda for this week’s summit.

However, the significance of this disagreement was evident when EU leaders intervened at Thursday’s meeting in Brussels.

The main character is Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, as the government has been blocking the EU’s already completed agreement on car emissions for a few weeks.

Germany does not want to say yes until it receives final approval to allow new e-fuel cars after 2035.

– In fact, it’s just a matter of finding the right way to implement a promise made by the (EU) Commission a long time ago, Schultz said on his way to the meeting.

“on the right track”

Schulz refers to the negotiations taking place directly between Germany and the Commission and believes that the matter is “on the right track”.

However, more countries would like to be part of the discussion.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer supports Scholz, opposes the end date for the internal combustion engine and does not want the EU to lock down a particular technology. He sees e-fuels as an ingredient in climate change.

Slovakia and the Czech Republic also want to broaden the conversation to also talk about the so-called Euro 7 proposal about requirements and limit values ​​that will apply to car emissions from 2025.

On the flip side, there are many countries that don’t agree with the German way of saying no to something everyone has already agreed upon.

Negotiation

There was no special summit discussion on automobile emissions. However, the EU Commission promised to “step up” the ongoing negotiations with Germany.

– There is a will on both sides to resolve the issue and to do so within the preliminary settlement reached between the Council of Ministers and the European Union Parliament. I am convinced that we will find a good solution soon, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained in her press conference afterwards.

Sweden is behind an agreement to stop internal combustion engines in new cars by 2035. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (the businessman) understands that Germany may need to clarify with the EU Commission exactly how the exemptions work.

Everyone is expected to work on the details they disagree on. Everyone thinks this decision that we’ll be free of combustion engines in 2035 is a good one, Kristersson says at a Swedish news conference after the meeting.

competitiveness

The main issues for Thursday’s EU summit were otherwise the situation in Ukraine and future competitiveness within the EU. Sweden has long pushed for the latter and likes the strategy presented by the committee last week.

Streamlining permit procedures and making bureaucracy simpler. Christerson says there is huge potential for improvement there.

Ursula von der Leyen stresses the importance of investing in research.

Innovation is the key to success. Our goal is to invest the equivalent of three percent of GDP in research, but we’re still not there. I therefore welcome the Swedish presidency’s initiative to discuss increasing this target, says von der Leyen.

The first day of meetings in Brussels has already ended at 21.30 on Thursday. During the Friday, leaders continue to hold a euro summit, where non-European countries such as Sweden and Denmark are also welcomed.