Note: the recording of our Head of Cabinet’s speech during the Press Gathering of 18 May is available below.
“Thank you all for being here today.
Today marks an important moment as we officially open the trilogue negotiations on the revision of the CO₂ standards Regulation for light-duty vehicles and vehicle labelling. On behalf of Commissioner POMILI POMILI and the DG CLIMA team, I would like to thank the Parliament, the Council, and all stakeholders for the intensive and constructive work carried out in preparation for these discussions.
We are entering this phase with confidence that the negotiations ahead will be fruitful and substantive. The quality of the work undertaken so far, including the many amendments and technical contributions put forward by both co-legislators, has enabled us to return with a proposal that we believe is legally coherent, balanced, and operationally sound.
Today’s discussions will focus on several key elements of the proposal, including flexibilities linked to renewable fuels and low-carbon steel credits, provisions related to small electric vehicles and “Made in EU” requirements, as well as questions concerning lifecycle emissions methodologies and the broader architecture of the Regulation. These are important and technically complex issues which go to the heart of balancing climate ambition, industrial competitiveness, and legal robustness.
From the outset, the Commission’s objective has been clear: to provide a flexible and technology-neutral framework while remaining fully aligned with the Union’s climate neutrality objectives and maintaining predictability for manufacturers, investors, and consumers alike. We remain fully committed to the European Climate Law and to the decarbonisation of road transport, while recognising the significant structural challenges currently facing the European automotive sector.
In this context, we welcome the constructive engagement shown by both the Parliament and the Council. The amendments proposed throughout the process reflect a genuine willingness to strengthen the text and to ensure that the final Regulation is both effective and implementable in practice.
The Commission will continue to play its role as a constructive facilitator throughout these negotiations. We are open to compromise and ready to work closely with both co-legislators to identify balanced solutions. At the same time, it is essential that any compromise preserves the overall coherence of the Regulation, its legal certainty, and the integrity of the broader framework.
We believe that today’s discussions provide a strong basis for moving forward together in a spirit of cooperation, pragmatism, and shared responsibility.
Thank you.”
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To see the recording of our Head of Cabinet’s speech, please refer to the link down below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rZgPH8HfqN6bsolUHMBuajFAt6ehFtyb/view?usp=sharing
Contact
Cléa Leclerc-Dupont : clea.leclercdupont@sciencespo.fr
Communication Officer of the Directorate General for Climate Action