The Industrial Action Plan for the European automotive sector, recently presented by the European Commission, has two fundamental shortcomings: it does not commit to repealing the ban on internal combustion engines starting in 2035, and it is not sufficiently flexible regarding CO₂ standards for cars and vans, stated MEP Iuliu Winkler (UDMR, EPP) for Știrile Transilvaniei.
According to the MEP, the Action Plan comes at a critical moment when the global car market is undergoing profound technological transformation, and global competition is endangering both the European industry and European consumers.
“Despite all the commitments made last year during the election campaign, the European Commission continues to equate clean mobility with zero-emission mobility. This approach disregards the principle of tech neutrality, because zero-emission mobility essentially designates a single technology—electric mobility. Discouraging innovation in other fields contradicts both the interests of European industry and those of consumers,” Winkler stated.
According to him, European drivers are not just buyers of new cars; they also include millions of Europeans who purchase used cars that perfectly meet their daily commuting needs, whether for work, study, or other everyday purposes.
“Mobility must not become a luxury, which is why I support the position of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, which argues that the Commission’s Action Plan is only a first step and that further concrete actions are necessary. First, the ban on internal combustion engines from 2035 must be repealed. Second, the CO₂ emissions reduction targets for cars and vans must be reviewed and made more flexible. We consider it absolutely necessary for the CO₂ standards regulation to be revised by no later than 2026,” the UDMR MEP specified.
In his view, the Commission’s communications remain, unfortunately, firmly anchored in the ideological approach of the Green Deal, which was rejected by the vast majority of European voters in 2024.
“A shift in mentality is needed at the European Commission level, along with an understanding of the political signals coming from the European Parliament. All European institutions must work in the interest of European citizens and our industry, not in service of ideological trends,” Winkler emphasized.
The European automotive industry currently supports 13 million jobs across 255 factories and produces 15 million vehicles annually – altogether accounting for 7% of the EU’s aggregate GDP.
“Freedom of movement also means mobility, and it is, in fact, a key element of the European way of life. That is why all European industrial policies and initiatives must acknowledge a fundamental truth: we need technological neutrality. The Green Deal must generate a better life for European citizens, not additional profits for battery and electric vehicle manufacturers in China,” the UDMR MEP added.
