The European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted this week, with 46 votes in favor, 40 against and two abstentions, a position on proposed rules to revise the CO₂ emission performance standards for new cars and vans in line with the EU’s increased climate ambition.

In the report, MEPs expressed their support for the Commission proposal to reach zero-emission road mobility by 2035. Under the approved proposal, carmakers would be required to cut their average fleet emissions by 20% in 2025, compared to 2021, by 55% in 2030, and by 100% in 2035.

Van-makers would be required to reduce the average emissions of new vehicles by 15% in 2025 and 50% in 2030. All new vans in 2035 would need to be zero-emissions.

Today cars account for 13% of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU and vans 2%.

Conservatives and even some progressive MEPs rejected a new interim target in 2027 and a higher 2030 goal which would require manufacturers to ramp up sales of electric cars.

Proposed measures include:

• Removing the incentive mechanism for zero- and low-emission vehicles (‘ZLEV’), as it no longer serves its original purpose;

• A report by the Commission on the progress towards zero-emission road mobility by the end of 2025 and on a yearly basis thereafter, covering the impact on consumers and employment, the level of renewable energy use as well as information on the market for second-hand vehicles;

• Gradually reducing the cap for eco-innovation, in line with the proposed stricter targets (the existing 7g CO –/km limit should remain until 2024, followed by 5g from 2025, 4g from 2027 and 2g until the end of 2034);

• A report by the Commission, by the end of 2023, detailing the need for targeted funding to ensure a just transition in the automotive sector, to mitigate negative employment and other economic impacts; and

• A common EU methodology by the Commission, by 2023, for assessing the full life cycle of CO₂ emissions of cars and vans placed on the EU market, as well as for the fuels and energy consumed by these vehicles.

This regulation encourages the production of zero- and low-emission vehicles. With CO₂ standards, we create clarity for the car industry and stimulate innovation and investments for car manufacturers. In addition, purchasing and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers. This is especially important now that the prices of diesel and petrol continue to rise.

—Rapporteur Jan Huitema (Renew, NL)

The report is scheduled to be adopted during the June plenary sitting and will constitute Parliament’s negotiating position with EU governments on the final shape of the legislation.

Green NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) said the increased 2025 goal could help spur action by carmakers early this decade but not enough for the EU and member states to hit their climate goals in 2030. T&E called on the European Parliament’s plenary to support a 2027 interim target and a more ambitious 2030 standard to make EVs accessible to more Europeans in this decade.

Background. On 14 July 2021, as part of the “Fit for 55” package, the Commission presented a legislative proposal for a revision of the CO₂ emission performance standards for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The proposal aims to contribute to the EU 2030 and 2050 climate objectives, to deliver benefits to citizens by deploying zero-emission vehicles more broadly (better air quality, energy savings and lower cost for owning a vehicle), as well as to stimulate innovation in zero-emission technologies.