In brief

• The European Parliament's environment committee voted for a looser version of the planned 2035 phase-out of new combustion-engine cars.
• The committee's proposal would require a 95 percent CO2 cut by 2035, or 87.5 percent for makers using low-emission European steel.
• A full plenary vote is expected in mid-December, and Parliament and member states must still agree before any change takes effect.

Committee vote and what it changes

The environment committee of the European Parliament has voted in favour of relaxing the so-called combustion-engine phase-out, the EU rule that would end sales of new cars with conventional engines from 2035. A majority of members backed the proposal, which will prepare the position of the full Parliament. The plenary vote is expected in mid-December (Klimaschutz: EU-Parlamentsausschuss will Verbrenner-Aus aufweichen – ZEIT ONLINE) (Verbrenner-Aus: Umweltausschuss im EU-Parlament stimmt für Lockerung – DER SPIEGEL).

The committee vote followed a deal reached in October by the centre-leaning groups in the chamber, including the European People's Party, the Socialists and Democrats and the liberals (Komisja PE zdecydowała: Spalinówki po 2035 roku zostają, większa swoboda firm – RMF24).

The new emissions targets

The committee's proposal sets a 95 percent cut in average CO2 emissions from new cars by 2035, compared with 2021. Under the draft, manufacturers that use low-emission steel produced in Europe would be able to lower that requirement to 87.5 percent. The figures describe the committee's position and are not yet binding law (Verbrenner-Aus: EU-Ausschuss stimmt für Lockerung ab 2035 – ad-hoc-news.de) (EU-Parlament macht Weg für Lockerung des Verbrenner-Aus frei | NIUS – nius.de).

Who would benefit

If the proposal were adopted, car makers could keep selling new petrol cars, diesel models and hybrids after 2035, provided they meet the conditions attached to the deal. The compromise also includes support for small cars and European steelworks, as well as provisions on certain fuels.

Next steps

The Parliament and the 27 member states must agree on a common position before any change can take effect. Member states are currently drafting theirs, and Germany and France are reported to be close to a deal on a softer stance. Without agreement from both sides, the existing rules stay in place.

The move is presented as a lifeline for Europe's car industry, which faces falling profits and concerns over factories and jobs (Konec spalovacích aut se odkládá. Ale kdo je bude za deset let chtít? – Seznam Zprávy).

Read also

• EU Softens 2035 Combustion-Engine Ban as MEPs Reach Compromise