Nine EU Member States are calling on the European Commission to accelerate the phase-out of petrol and diesel cars in the EU

Onsdag 10. marts 2021 kl: 10:39

Af: Editorial

On a joint Danish-Dutch initiative, nine EU Member States have sent a joint message to the European Commission calling for an accelerated EU-wide transition to zero-emission vehicles, including through a phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the EU

The transport sector accounts for around one quarter of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions and reaching the EU’s objective of climate neutrality by 2050 will require a swift transition to a sustainable transport sector. Car manufacturers are increasingly directing investments into the development and production of zero- and low emission vehicles, but the transition must be speed up by committing to zero-emission mobility and giving clear signals to manufacturers, fleet owners and consumers.

Therefore, nine Member States are joining forces, encouraging the Commission to put forward ambitious and cost-effective policies to support an accelerated and balanced shift towards zero-emission vehicles, including:

A phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the EU as an important policy tool to incentivise the transition to zero emission vehicles
EU legislation allowing Member States to take action at national level to incentivise early phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars and vans
Ambitious and cost-effective regulation at EU level, including a significant strengthening of the CO2 emissions performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles
Strengthening charging and refueling infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles

- In order to deliver on the increased EU 2030 climate target and to reach climate neutrality by 2050, it is essential to ensure a shift towards a sustainable transport sector. We have to accelerate the green transition of road transport and as legislators send clear signals to car manufacturers and consumers across the EU. To that end, I am delighted that we have managed to gather nine EU Member States to call on the European Commission to put forward ambitious and concrete policies to ensure the necessary transition to zero-emission vehicles, says Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Dan Jørgensen.

- A timely transition to zero-emission cars and vans are vital to achieving climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. Consequently, we are nine Member States calling for EU-wide policies to facilitate the green transition of road transport, including a phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the EU. In addition, we need a legal framework that allows Member States to move ahead at national level”, says Danish Minister for Transport, Benny Engelbrecht.

The non-paper and letter to the European Commission has been signed by Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands.

Facts:

The European Commission is currently preparing the comprehensive “Fit for 55” package due in June this year to deliver on the increased climate target of at least 55 percent emissions reduction by 2030
EU has an objective of climate neutrality by 2050 and at least 55 percent greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2030
The transport sector accounts for around one quarter of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and emissions are increasing over time
Road transport accounts for approximately 70 percent of the total EU greenhouse gas emissions within transport
The “Fit for 55” package will includes a revision on the regulation setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles (Regulation (EU) 2019/631)

Signing ministers:

Leonore Gewessler Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of Austria
Zakia Khattabi Minister of Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and Green Deal of Belgium
Tinne Van der Straeten Minister of Energy of Belgium
Georges Gilkinet Minister of Mobility of Belgium
Dan Jørgensen Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark
Benny Engelbrecht Minister for Transport of Denmark
Lea Wermelin Minister of Environment of Denmark
Kostas Skrekas Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece
Konstantinos A. Karamanlis Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of Greece
Eamon Ryan Minister for Transport; Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland
Simonas Gentvilas Minister of Environment of Lithuania
François Bausch Minister for Mobility and Public Works of Luxembourg
Carole Dieschbourg Minister for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development of Luxembourg
Aaron Farrugia Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning of Malta
Ian Borg Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects of Malta
Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands

Read the non-paper via this link: