Last Update: February 14, 2023, 23:01 IST
Supporters of the bill argued that it would give European carmakers a clear deadline in which to switch production to zero-emissions electric vehicles. (Credits: YouTube)
Opponents also argue that car batteries are produced overseas by Europe’s competitors such as the United States, but Timmermans argued that European production would increase thanks to EU-backed investment.
The European Parliament on Tuesday voted to ban new sales of carbon-emitting petrol and diesel cars by 2035, clearing the final legislative hurdle.
EU member states have already approved the law and will formally turn it into law despite opposition from Conservative MEPs, the largest group in parliament.
Supporters of the bill argued that it would give European carmakers a clear deadline in which to switch production to zero-emissions electric vehicles.
This in turn would support the EU’s ambitious plan to become a “climate neutral” economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“I remind you that between the end of last year and the end of this year, China will bring 80 models of electric cars to the international market,” EU Vice President Frans Timmermans warned MEPs.
“These are good cars. These are cars that will be more and more affordable, and we need to compete with that. We don’t want to leave this essential industry to outsiders.”
But opponents argue the industry is not ready for such dramatic cuts to production of internal combustion engine vehicles – and hundreds of thousands of jobs are at risk.
“Our proposal … is to let the market decide which technology is best to reach our goals,” said MEP Jens Gieseke, a member of the centre-right European People’s Party.
Gieseke declared that arguments from Green and Socialist MEPs that electric cars are cheaper to run had been rendered “null and void” by the crisis of rising energy costs.
“600,000 people in Germany work on ICE production, those jobs are at risk,” he declared, urging the European Commission to reconsider plans to ban trucks and buses.
Opponents also argue that car batteries are produced overseas by Europe’s competitors such as the United States, but Timmermans argued that European production would increase thanks to EU-backed investment.
The law passed the Strasbourg Assembly by 340 votes to 279, with 21 abstentions.
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