Italy will formally present a proposal to postpone a review of the EU ban on internal combustion engine vehicles from 2035 to the first half of 2025 at a meeting in Brussels, according to Euractiv.
The review was currently scheduled for 2026, Italy’s Minister of Economic Development Adolfo Urso said. After presenting the plan to Italian industry associations and trade unions, his ministry confirmed that he would officially present the proposal during a meeting on the automotive sector organised by Hungary’s EU presidency
Urso’s plan aims to ease concerns about the impact of the transition on the auto industry and workforce.
We will submit a very sensible Italian proposal to the EU, which is to bring forward the review clause already included in the regulation on light vehicles for the end of 2026. This could involve, for example, extending the lifespan of combustion engines, adopting technological neutrality, or promoting biofuels for the years following 2035.
Current regulations require the elimination of CO2 emissions from new light vehicles, including cars and vans, by 2035. New vehicles with petrol and diesel engines will then not be allowed on the European market.
Urso also warned that delays could lead to unrest. He referred to recent developments in Germany, where a possible closure of two car factories was announced.
If we want to avoid workers taking to the streets of European capitals, as farmers recently did, we need to make decisions now. Waiting two more years in uncertainty is not an option.
