POSTPONEMENT OF THE VOTE ON STOPPING ENDOTHERMIC ENGINES FROM 2035

The vote by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union on the EU regulation blocking the production and marketing of CO2-emitting vehicles from 2035 has been postponed until a later date. 

A postponement that was deemed ‘an Italian success’. Below is the comment of the Italian Climate Network with the statement of its President, Serena Giacomin.
“After Italy’s declared intention to vote no, the comments on the side-lines of the decision to postpone the vote continue to disorient us. We could read Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin’s statement that “the use of renewable fuels compatible with thermal engines will contribute to a reduction in emissions without requiring unfeasible economic sacrifices from citizens”. But, getting straight to the point, the EU provision also calls for the use of renewable fuels in endothermic cars. This is why Italy has announced a vote against it even though the EU provision already contains what Minister Pichetto considers necessary. We also stress that the provision does not speak of an obligation to citizens not to drive, but of a production stop. It is difficult to interpret this attitude, if not as a very clumsy decision that cannot be good for the transition and the Italian economy. Any justification for this ministerial position seems unacceptable, from a possible lack of preparation on the issue to the government’s desire to please a public opinion frightened by the change taking place, with the complicity of certain press organs that are communicating issues such as electric mobility in a superficial and polarising manner.”