The Vice President of the European Commission, Stéphane Séjourné, has expressed opposition to fining automakers if they fail to meet their CO2 emission targets this year.
Séjourné, who is in charge of industrial strategy, told French newspaper Le Figaro that he found it strange to penalise companies that the Commission aims to assist. He stressed the importance of this decision for the sector, noting that Chinese competitors do not face similar constraints.
The Commission will launch a major dialogue on Thursday with the European automotive sector, which is under heavy pressure from Chinese competition. The European Union must reconcile the industry’s demands for support with the climate goals approved by Member States and the European Parliament.
Automakers are opposed to fines for failing to meet the stricter CO2 emission standards set for this year, which average 93.6 grammes per kilometre. They have the backing of countries such as France and Italy.
Thus far, the Commission has delayed a decision, stating that it would wait for the sales figures for zero-emission vehicles and actual emission levels in 2025. Any potential fines would not be considered until next year.
During the presentation of the new economic strategy, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged that successful companies should not be penalised. She emphasised the need for flexibility and pragmatism to address the issue.
Von der Leyen indicated that the question of fines would be part of a broader package of measures. Noting that this issue needed to be resolved urgently, she suggested a timeframe of weeks rather than months.
From 2035, the EU will ban the sale of new cars that emit CO2. Séjourné supports maintaining this medium-term goal, stating that it would be disastrous to change course now after the industry’s significant investments to adapt its production methods.
