Italy, joined by Poland and five other EU member states, is advocating for a delay in implementing stricter CO2 emissions standards, aligning with the car industry’s call for more time.
This move comes as European ministers convene in Brussels to discuss the region’s competitiveness and as the automotive sector warns that tightening environmental policies could threaten its future.
Italy, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Romania, and Slovakia have collectively proposed advancing the review of CO2 emissions regulations, which are due to take effect by the end of 2025. In a joint discussion paper obtained by Euronews, the governments stressed the urgent need for this assessment to maintain the EU’s automotive competitiveness and prevent investments in green technology from moving outside the region.
“The automotive industry is at a critical juncture, facing significant challenges related to production, employment, and global competition, which require urgent and coordinated action at the EU level,” the paper said.
It also highlighted that potential fines for manufacturers failing to meet stricter annual production standards could severely hinder reinvestment in innovation and development, ultimately impacting Europe’s competitiveness.
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has issued stark warnings about the potential financial fallout from the new regulations. Due to a decline in electric car sales, the industry risks facing multi-billion-euro penalties as the average emissions from annual sales are expected to exceed the new legal cap, which will lower from 115.1 grams per kilometer to 93.6 grams next year.
