Italy says enough EU countries ready to back call for early emissions review

Italy has secured the support of nine EU countries for Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso’s proposal to bring forward the revision of EU car emissions legislation from 2026 to 2025, with the minister saying there are now enough EU member states ready to back Italy’s call.

"Several countries have already expressed their views within the Council regarding our proposal, while others did so in bilateral meetings I have held: I am specifically referring to Romania, Slovakia, Latvia, Malta, Cyprus, Poland, the Czech Republic, and I have also spoken with Spain and yesterday with Germany," said Urso after the EU Competitiveness Council meeting on Thursday.

This brings the total number of EU member states potentially backing Urso’s proposal to nine (10, including Italy).

"I believe there is a sufficient majority of countries ready to request, through the report we are preparing, that the revision clause – currently set for the end of 2026 – be exercised earlier. We will propose it be brought forward to the first half of 2025," Urso added.

Italy’s proposal calls for more common financial resources to support the green transition, leaving room for biofuels—currently opposed by both Brussels and Germany—and hydrogen to contribute to what is termed "technological neutrality" in the transition towards electric vehicles.

However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government has long shown scepticism regarding the EU’s Green Deal, particularly the phase-out of internal combustion engines by 2035 - a stance that appears to be changing following Urso’s meeting with German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, whose government remains committed to the target.

Although German Economy Secretary Sven Giegold spoke of "misunderstandings that needed to be clarified" regarding reports of Urso’s meeting with Habeck, Urso told journalists that "there was no misunderstanding."

"I said that we discussed these measures with Habeck, and he reiterated that for them, the 2035 target must remain the goal, their flagship,” said Urso.

“Indeed, we are talking about a main path that could keep that target but also create the conditions to reach it," he added.

(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)