Italy in the EU, stop polluting engines does not provide incentives

“We are certainly in favor of the electrification of light vehicles. We do not believe, however, that it should be the only path to achieving zero emissions in the transition phase”. This is what Italy underlines in a national declaration sent to the Representatives of the 27 in the EU regarding the stop to internal combustion engines from 2035. “By establishing a goal of reducing emissions by 100% in 2035 and not providing any incentive for of renewable fuels, the regulation is not in line with the principle of technological neutrality. Therefore, Italy cannot support it”, reads the document “Italy shares and is fully committed to the objective of decarbonising the road transport sector , as reducing the sector’s CO2 emissions, in particular those from cars and light-duty vehicles, is essential to achieve the Union’s climate objectives.We believe that, in the road transport sector, decarbonisation must be pursued in accordance of the principles of an economically viable and socially just transition to zero emissions and of technological neutrality you are in favor of the electrification of light vehicles. We do not believe, however, that it should represent, in the transition phase, the only path to achieve zero emissions”, explains the statement in the statement sent to the Coreper I circuit, which brings together the Deputy Permanent Representatives and which today, before of the postponement of the vote, he was called to approve the agreement on the stop to new polluting vehicles. “Electrification requires significant changes in the entire automotive sector that must be planned and guided with due attention, in order to avoid economic, industrial and social unwanted. Cars with internal combustion engines are owned by low-income citizens and will remain on the road beyond 2035. The success of electric cars will greatly depend on how affordable they become for these citizens”, the document continues. Italy underlines that so far the approach chosen by the Union for the automotive sector has been mainly regulatory.The text therefore lists a series of initiatives which, from the Italian point of view, should be adopted by the European Commission: – support with all available legislative and financial means , the transition of the automotive sector, in particular of SMEs; – timely and comprehensively monitor and report on progress towards zero-emission road mobility, considering all factors contributing to a just and cost-effective transition, including an assessment of possible funding gaps; – ensure, based on that monitoring, a rigorous and credible review of the targets in 2026; – follow up on the provision which provides for the registration, after 2035, of vehicles powered exclusively with fuels with zero CO2 emissions; – present a proposal to include in the Regulation mechanisms for accounting for the benefits of renewable fuels in terms of reduction of CO2 emissions.