Denmark and eight EU Member States are calling on the European Commission to accelerate the phase-out of petrol and diesel cars

The transport sector accounts for around one quarter of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions and reaching the EU’s objective of climate neutrality by 2050 will require a swift transition of the transport sector. Car manufacturers are increasingly directing investments into the development and production of zero- and low emission vehicles, but the transition must be sped up by committing to zero-emission mobility and giving clear signals to manufacturers, fleet owners and consumers.

Therefore, nine Member States are joining forces, encouraging the Commission to put forward ambitious and cost-effective policies to support an accelerated and balanced shift towards zero-emission vehicles, including:

• A phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the EU as an important policy tool to incentivise the transition to zero emission vehicles.
• EU legislation allowing Member States to take action at national level to incentivise early phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars and vans.
• Ambitious and cost-effective regulation at EU level, including a significant strengthening of the CO2 emissions performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles.
• Strengthening recharging and refueling infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles.

- In order to deliver on the EU climate ambitions of at least 55 percent greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, it is essential to ensure a shift towards a sustainable transport sector. We have to speed up the green transition of road transport and as legislators send clear signals to car manufacturers and consumers across the EU. Thus, I am happy that we are nine EU Member States calling on the European Commission to put forward ambitious and concrete policies to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles, says Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Dan Jørgensen.

- A timely transition to zero-emission cars and vans are vital to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. Consequently, we are nine Member States calling for EU-wide policies to facilitate the green transition of road transport, including a phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the EU. In addition, we need a legal framework that allows Member States to move ahead at national level, says Danish Minister for Transport, Benny Engelbrecht.

The letter to the European Commission has been signed by Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta and The Nederlands.

Facts

• The European Commission is currently preparing the comprehensive “Fit for 55” package due in June this year to deliver on the increased climate target of at least 55 percent emissions reduction by 2030.
• The transport sector accounts for around one quarter of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and emissions are increasing over time.
• Road transport accounts for approximately 70 percent of the total EU greenhouse gas emissions within transport.
• EU has an objective of climate neutrality by 2050 and at least 55 percent greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2030.
• The European Commission is expected to present the “Fit for 55” package in June 2021, including a revision on the regulation setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles (Regulation (EU) 2019/631).

Contact
Press advisor, Emil Lee Madsen (emlma@kefm.dk), phone (+45) 41 72 90 58