The following is a joint press release by the Greens and the Left.
As trilogue negotiations on the regulation COM(995) conclude, the Greens/EFA and The Left acknowledge the efforts made by negotiating teams and colleagues across institutions to reach a compromise. While the final text contains some important advances, we express serious concerns that the agreement falls short of the EU’s climate ambition and risks weakening the credibility of the regulatory framework.
We welcome, in particular, the strengthened social dimension of the regulation. The inclusion of provisions linked to the Social Climate Fund, alongside measures supporting worker protection, reskilling, and a just transition, represents a meaningful step toward ensuring that the transformation of the automotive sector is fair and inclusive. However, we regret that the allocation of revenues remains subject to a future Commission assessment rather than being firmly guaranteed in the regulation, leaving uncertainty about the scale and predictability of support.
At the same time, the environmental integrity of the proposal has been significantly weakened during negotiations. The inclusion of low-emission vehicles through additional multipliers constitutes a major concern. This introduces further flexibility into the system,
risks delaying the transition to fully zero-emission mobility, and sends contradictory signals to industry. It may penalise frontrunners that have already invested in full electrification
while prolonging incentives for partially emitting technologies.
Similarly, the expansion of flexibility mechanisms throughout the text undermines the overall effectiveness of the regulation. The investment-related reduction mechanism, even reduced from 15% to 12%, continues to weaken the deterrent effect of excess emissions premiums and risks slowing down necessary investments in zero-emission technologies.
Overall, this compromise reflects a shift away from the original climate ambition of the Commission proposal toward increased reliance on flexibility mechanisms. While social fairness and industrial resilience are essential, they must not come at the expense of environmental integrity.
The Greens/EFA and The Left call on all Members to reflect carefully on whether this compromise delivers on our shared climate and social responsibilities.
The Left & The Greens
ENVI Committee
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