Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke has expressed disappointment at the defeat in the struggle with Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) over Europe-wide CO2 limits for cars.

"In fact, I would have wished for even higher CO2 limits before and for 2030," said the Green politician on Wednesday, thereby confirming the decision in the dispute in the federal government.

According to Lemke, stricter requirements could have been implemented: "Car manufacturers have been sending us signals for months when they announce that they will only put fully electric vehicles on the road in just a few years, while the limit values ​​are to remain largely unchanged over the next eight years."

According to government circles, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had decided the dispute between Lemke and Wissing in the interests of the Minister of Transport.

After that, Germany supports the EU proposals and does not want to tighten them any further.

The EU's "Fit for 55" program stipulates that the CO2 emissions of newly registered cars and vans should fall by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 2021. Environmental groups, the Greens and the Ministry of the Environment had already criticized this as insufficient in the last election period Older petrol or diesel cars would still be on the road after 2040, when Germany wants to be practically climate-neutral.

Lemke had advocated a reduction of 75 percent instead of 55 percent.

But she now has to represent Wissing's position for Germany on this point in Brussels at the beginning of March.

He had insisted on the coalition agreement, which generally states that the "Fit for 55" is supported Fuels produced with the help of hydrogen could be used in conventional vehicles, which is of particular interest to the automotive industry.

Lemke relies on electromobility

However, since scarce e-fuels should primarily be used for air or ship traffic from the point of view of the environmental department, Lemke rejects them in cars: "This brings a lengthy debate in the federal government to an end.

Because it has long been clear that electric mobility is the most efficient, cost-effective alternative for more climate protection in road traffic," she said.

The automotive industry also backed the "Fit for 55" package.

"Planning security is crucial, especially when it comes to fleet regulation," emphasized the Association of the German Automotive Industry (VDA).

In addition, synthetic fuels, so-called e-fuels, should play a greater role.

The Greens traffic expert Stefan Gelbhaar stressed that the EU Commission had submitted the proposal in order to achieve the goals in the transport sector.

If there are other ideas at the national level, they should be written down and discussed, he told Reuters.

Since Germany is lagging behind its climate goals in terms of transport, Wissing is under pressure.

Like other ministries, he should submit his proposals for an immediate climate program to Climate Minister Habeck by last Friday.

However, according to government circles, most ministries have asked for an extension of the deadline.

Wissing, for example, is considering a vehicle tax that is more strongly oriented towards CO2 emissions in order to get more electric cars on the road.

However, environmental groups see the fleet limits as the most effective tool for this.