Resistance before the European elections: The CDU's unrequited love for combustion engines

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Gas station in Berlin

Photo:

Julia Zimmermann / laif

European sister parties of the CDU and CSU think little of the Union's plan to overturn the EU's phase-out of combustion engines planned for 2035.

Conservatives from several European countries and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson voted in Bucharest last week against the CDU proposal to anchor the phase-out of combustion engines in the election program of the European People's Party (EPP).

Kristersson also has the interests of the Chinese-dominated manufacturer Volvo in mind, which relies heavily on electric cars.

Together, the opponents of combustion engines pushed through the fact that the EPP program was only generally committed to the “principle of technological openness.”

The current exit schedule should remain in place.

Not even the car lobby is united behind the plans

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) also does not want to let one of the core components of her Green Deal be shaken.

This also applies to the date on which the EU wants to review the phase-out of combustion engines as agreed.

Reports that officials could bring forward the relevant report by a year to accommodate the Union are denied in Brussels.

“The year 2026 is in the law,” says the commission.

“If you want to change that, you first have to bring together the relevant majorities.” But they can’t be seen.

The FDP's plan to implement an exception for synthetic fuels ("e-fuels") is also in danger of failing.

After months of dispute between Brussels and Berlin, the Commission has presented a corresponding regulation.

But Germany is isolated in the responsible body of the EU Council, as stated in an internal protocol.

No other country “supported Berlin at the most recent meeting.”

Not even the car lobby is united behind the plans.

According to the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers, there is little chance of a later exit.

Operating cars with hydrogen or e-fuels is too expensive;

In addition, additional infrastructure would have to be built for the production, transport and distribution of fuels.

This cannot be achieved by 2035.

“From our point of view, it makes no sense at all to make a strategic shift now,” says VW CEO Thomas Schäfer.

sh/msa