FDP takes a stand: Germany blocks EU climate targets for trucks and buses

Enlarge image

Motorway near Munich (symbolic image)

Photo: Peter Kneffel / dpa

There is a dispute within the federal government about new CO₂ emissions standards for buses and trucks - a vote in Brussels that was actually considered a formality has now been postponed. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit confirmed in Berlin that the German position on the plans was still being negotiated. Instead of this Wednesday, as originally planned, the topic is now on the agenda of the responsible EU committee for Friday. It is uncertain whether the votes required for the project will come about without Germany.

Negotiators from the EU states and the European Parliament had actually already agreed on January 18th that the new specifications for so-called fleet limit values ​​should come. These limits regulate how much climate-damaging CO₂ new heavy commercial vehicles will be allowed to emit in the future. The CO₂ emissions from trucks and coaches are expected to fall by 45 percent by 2030 and by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 2019. New city buses must be completely emission-free by 2035, just as was decided for cars last year.

After the deal, it was firmly assumed in Brussels that the German government coalition made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP would agree to the plans. According to information from the dpa news agency, the FDP has now surprisingly lodged a veto and wants to prevent a German yes to the project, which is in the care of Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens). The “Euractiv” portal and the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” initially reported on it on Tuesday.

Industry relies on specifications

In the meantime, the FDP had a European party conference at which the participants spoke out strictly against the EU's climate requirements aimed at vehicle manufacturers. Specifically, it said: “We will abolish the fleet limits without replacement.”

The Association of the Automotive Industry stated that the German automotive industry fundamentally welcomes the fact that the EU Council and the EU Parliament have come to an agreement regarding CO₂ fleet regulation for heavy commercial vehicles. »It sets a clear timetable to advance the implementation of emission-free solutions on the European market.«

The agreement reached by the EU Council and Parliament on CO₂ fleet regulation for heavy commercial vehicles sets ambitious goals, according to the industry association. »It is all the more important that the goals set and the framework conditions required for them are thought of together. In order for the ambitious goals to actually be achieved, a sufficiently dense network of electric charging and hydrogen tank infrastructure with accompanying connection to electricity and hydrogen networks for heavy commercial vehicles throughout Europe is a crucial prerequisite. However, this is currently not even close to being present.«

While most large truck manufacturers have already set up series production of electric trucks, the traffic light coalition's budget policy means there is currently a lack of money for new applications for purchasing assistance for hauliers in order to cope with the surcharge compared to diesel.

Reminder of combustion engine shutdown

EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, without explicitly naming Germany, that no agreement could be reversed. It's about trust between the co-legislators and the credibility of the process.

In Brussels, the FDP's positioning triggers memories of the dispute over the end of combustion engines for cars. Last year, the EU agreed on a fleet target of 100 percent less CO₂ by 2035. In the federal government, however, the FDP in particular pushed for cars that were only fueled with e-fuels to be excluded from the so-called combustion engine ban. There was then some vehement criticism of the federal government, and Berlin's reliability in European negotiations was questioned. It is still unclear how the e-fuel exception will be implemented.

The FDP also wanted to open up commercial vehicles to e-fuels, as did the Italian government for biofuels. However, this was rejected by a clear majority in the deal in January. So far, the federal government had supported the position of the Council of Member States that progress on alternative fuels should be reviewed in 2027.

ani/ahh/dpa