The next European commissioner for sustainable transport struggled in a speech this week: Apostolos Tzitzikostas supports mobility and has no intention of undermining the EU's plan to close new registrations of ICE vehicles by 2035. The problem is, it's not clear how you intend to make this happen.
In a hearing that lasted several hours on Monday before the Transportation Committee, reported live by Politicsthe man appointed to the top seat of transport as EU commissioner, Greek politician Apostolos Tzitzikostas, spoke clearly. He stressed that he will not delay the targets for next year, despite the constant pressure from the car industry.
“We have certain rules and regulations that we want … and we have to stick to the plan. Apart from that, the message that will be conveyed by the European Union … is not a message of stability and trust,” he was quoted as saying. Politics. “We know very well that technology is moving forward.”
What about the European car industry, which employs 14 million people across the bloc and is in deep trouble and faces fines of around 15 billion a year for failing to meet CO2 targets? Profits are rising, factories are closing, and European automakers are losing dominance to Chinese competition. Don't worry, said Tzitzikostas. He will provide a comprehensive plan at the start of his term, so we will have to wait and see what this means: more restrictions on cars made in China, more government subsidies for electric cars?
“We have to do everything we can to succeed [the car sector] survive,” said Tzitzikostas. “The automotive industry program will provide answers to all the doubts you may have.”
“There is no reason to worry.” Hmm, vagueness isn't very comforting, I'm sure.
However, one solution on the table is EU support for all electronic companies, which cover half of all young people registered across the EU. Doing so will also create a second-hand market for EVs as many corporate vehicles are purchased on lease, so the vehicles are replaced a few years later. “I can't say whether it will be done through grants or taxes, but I can't rule out legal action.”
From 2035, CO2-emitting vehicles may not be registered in the EU, which was put forward by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's “Green Deal” during her first term in office. In order to get a majority vote in his second term, he asked for an exemption from combustion engines running on e-fuels. One thing that was clear from the trial is that Tzitzikostas also supports that position, and wants e-fuels to be included in the law that will be revised in 2026.
The future commissioner also wants to drive investment and solutions in sustainable transport, looking at green air travel by measuring green fuel, and making rail travel more attractive by allowing rail travelers to use a single ticket and booking system for cross-border rail travel. To further alarm the car industry, Tzitzikostas added that he does not want to lose sight of road transport and help European car manufacturers switch to electric vehicles. But again, there are no details here.
“Commissioner-elect Tzitzikostas talked a good game about cleaning up Europe's biggest polluters,” William Todts, T&E's executive director, said in a statement. “He has shown commitment to mobility, increasing clean fuel for airplanes and ships, and solving rail tickets. But he says very little about what exactly he will do if he is appointed as Commissioner. His repeated refusal to commit to EU law that expected him to electrify company cars was puzzling.”
Still, it's too early for Tzitzikostas, whose closing remarks, after more than three hours of skeptical MEPs, received a standing ovation. His confirmation vote followed quickly, so the difficult task of handling Europe's green reforms will soon be his.
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