BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - By far the largest political group in the EU Parliament wants to reverse the so-called end of combustion engines. However, the EU climate targets should continue to be met, according to a position paper adopted at midday by the center-right EPP alliance, which also includes the CDU and CSU. More than a year and a half ago, at the urging of the FDP, the German government had already campaigned for there to be exemptions for so-called e-fuels.

The planned ban on combustion engines should be reversed in order to ensure technological neutrality, according to the paper. "We need all technologies, including those that may not even have been developed yet. The ban on combustion engines planned for 2035 must therefore be withdrawn," said Jens Gieseke (CDU), the MEP responsible for the issue in the EPP Group.

The EU has actually decided that, from 2035, only new cars that do not emit any climate-damaging CO2 during operation should be registered. E-fuels are synthetic fuels that can theoretically be used to operate combustion engines in a climate-neutral way. However, they are relatively expensive and are urgently needed in aviation, for example. This is because it is more difficult to operate aircraft electrically on a large scale than cars.

EU Commission should propose changes

The EU Commission, under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, would have to propose the necessary changes to move away from the so-called combustion engine phase-out. The authority is the only EU institution that can propose laws and amendments to existing laws. It also needs a sufficient majority in the European Parliament and among the EU member states.

In mid-July, the leading German politician von der Leyen held out the prospect of a corresponding initiative in the event of her re-election. In order to achieve the EU's climate targets, a technology-neutral approach is required in which synthetic fuels play a role, according to the CDU politician's political guidelines.

"The policy of the conservatives leads to chaos, uncertainty and damages Germany and Europe as an automotive location," said Green MEP Michael Bloss, criticizing the EPP paper. Instead of years of wrangling, we need clarity and investment security.

EPP: Avoid climate penalties for car manufacturers

In its position paper, the EPP also argues that potential EU climate penalties for car manufacturers in the billions should be avoided. This could be achieved, for example, by assessing compliance on the basis of a three-year average.

This means that anyone failing to meet the requirements in 2025 could compensate for this by exceeding the requirements in 2026, for example. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had also shown himself open to a similar approach.

Under current EU legislation, car manufacturers face fines if they exceed the so-called fleet limits for CO2 emissions. The limits are to become stricter in 2025. Manufacturers will have to pay a fine for emitting too much CO2. "Nobody wants fines in this difficult economic situation," said CDU MEP Peter Liese. On the other hand, however, under no circumstances should the signal be sent out that climate protection is no longer important.

Car industry under pressure

With its demands, the EPP wants to help the ailing car industry. Manufacturers are facing major challenges. The entire German car industry is struggling with weak sales figures, especially for e-cars. But the figures don't look rosy for other drive types either.

Germany's key industry, which employs around 770,000 people, is also facing growing competition from China. Following Donald Trump's election victory in the USA, new tariffs could also make business in the German automotive industry's most important foreign market more difficult.

In order to boost sales of sustainable vehicles, the EPP believes that EU member states should introduce incentive programmes such as VAT reductions or subsidized leasing./mjm/DP/mis