Stop to heat engines from 2035, Italy abstains

The final seal has arrived. Not unanimously, and without Italy. But that is enough for Europe to pave the way for “zero-emission mobility” to be achieved by 2035, while still saving internal combustion engines. On D-day for ‘green’ cars, Berlin takes home the spoils on the much-vaunted e-fuels, while Rome refrains from ratifying the agreement that leaves out biofuels. A dispute that, in the words of the Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto, Rome is ready to keep alive – despite the definitive go-ahead from the majority of EU capitals – demonstrating “already in the next few months” the technological neutrality of bio-fuels crucial for the ‘Italian automotive. And that Brussels will see a comeback when, in the autumn, it is called upon to present the regulation for synthetic fuels as promised. One of the many hot fronts in the energy field, which is also accompanied by the challenge of nuclear power in its infancy: Paris is pressing for funding for small modular reactors and the first EU guidelines now seem to be on the horizon. After weeks of close negotiations – which resulted in the agreement on the future use of e-fuels between Berlin and Brussels announced on Saturday – the wait confirms that the requests of Olaf Scholz’s government, and above all of its liberal component, have been fulfilled by Berlaymont Palace has arrived. And in the autumn the EU executive will present its regulation to continue to register vehicles powered by e-fuels even after 2035. Nothing to do instead as widely predicted for biofuels. An extremis rescue of heat engines, however “appreciated” by the Italian government, Pichetto said, but not yet sufficient to give hope to biofuels as well. Hence Rome’s decision to abstain, together with Bulgaria and Romania, without, however, blocking it by voting against the final ratification as ultimately done only by Poland. The opening of Brussels – is the strenuous Italian defense – is in any case “too restrictive” and the neutrality in CO2 emissions of biofuels “can be demonstrated” even before the interim evaluation already envisaged by the EU in 2026. A deadline which, accompanied by the future analysis on the progress made by national industries, still leaves some hope in Rome for the EU to question the way forward. Even if, it is the mantra that has been heard for days in the buildings of the EU institutions, biofuels emit CO2, albeit in less significant quantities than fossil fuels, and Brussels’ intention is to keep the point “respecting the legislative mandate ” achieved by 23 ministers. It is also on the strength of the agreement reached on the charging stations for electric cars which will have to be installed every 60 kilometers by 2026 on the main road axes indicated in the priority European transport networks (TEN-T). Behind the tug of war on cars, on the scene of the EU’s climate ambitions, meanwhile, the debate on nuclear power is breaking out in an increasingly overbearing way, which in perspective is already shaking the Paris-Berlin axis. With a leap forward orchestrated by France, thirteen countries, including Italy as an ‘observer’ together with Belgium and the Netherlands, gathered around the table of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy to define investment priorities future, pointing straight towards the mini nuclear reactors. And, at the end of the meeting, the French Representation to the EU issued a joint note to underline the unity of the alliance regarding the future of the latest generation of atoms, assuring that it had been validated by all 13 participants in the meeting. including observers. A small diplomatic case, then followed by the denial by sources in the Ministry of the Environment who indicated that Italy has not signed “any document”. A sign that it will still take time to evaluate the role of nuclear energy throughout Europe. But Brussels already has some “guidelines” in mind.

The Council and the EU Parliament have also found an initial agreement for the construction of electric and hydrogen recharging stations for cars and heavy vehicles on the main road networks of the countries of the Union.
Based on the agreement reached, charging stations for electric cars will have to be installed every 60 kilometers by 2026 on the main road axes indicated in the priority European transport networks (TEN-T). For heavy vehicles and buses, recharging stations must be installed every 120 kilometers by 2028. Hydrogen distribution systems must instead be installed every 200 kilometers by 2031. The agreement requires individual countries to present national plans for the achievement of the objectives indicated but also the possibility of exceptions for the most disadvantaged areas, islands and roads with little traffic. “The new rules – commented the EP rapporteur, the German socialist Ismail Ertug – will contribute to the creation of new infrastructures for alternative fuels without further delays and will ensure that the use and refueling of new generation cars is equally simple and convenient as for petrol vehicles”.
The agreement, before becoming definitive, will now have to be examined and approved by the ambassadors of the 27 and by the Council as well as by the transport commission and the plenary of the European Parliament.