The Italian government has rejected the EU’s plans to ban combustion engine vehicles by 2035, with some right-wing politicians calling it “ideological.”
The ban was agreed upon last year as part of the measures envisaged by the EU Commission’s Fitfor55 legislation, which aims to cut CO2 emissions for cars and light commercial vehicles.
Italy’s rejection of the legislation has been seen as a wake-up call for Europe, with Enterprise and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso stating that it’s time for more pragmatism and a vision that is more in line with the reality of the ecological and industrial transition.
He added that it’s crucial not to move from energy subordination to Russia to an even worse subordination to Chinese technology.
The EU’s plan was a response to US President Joe Biden’s law, which provides tax credits of up to $7,500 (£6,200) for electric vehicles assembled in North America and containing batteries manufactured in the region.
However, Italian MPs have argued that there should be a choice of technologies, and e-fuels are also an innovative source of mobility.
The proposal also provides for zero emissions from 2030 for buses circulating in the city and a 90 percent cut in emissions for fleets of other heavy vehicles, starting from 2040.
The Commission will present a methodology to assess and report data on CO2 emissions throughout the life cycle of cars and vans sold on the European market by 2025.
Manufacturers of small production volumes over an entire calendar year will be able to benefit from an exemption until the end of 2035, while those below the threshold will remain exempt from the restrictions.
The Italian rejection of the EU’s plans means that the debate on the regulation remains open in Brussels, with Germany and Bulgaria on the fence.
The Commission has also started the process of reviewing the regulation for CO2 emissions for buses and trucks, proposing a reduction in emissions of 45 percent in 2030, 65 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2040.
