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Jelena Batovac, a Greens/EFA representative in the European Parliament from Germany, has warned that the debate on proposed changes to EU car emissions rules is drifting away from green priorities, accusing parliamentary leadership of limiting her group’s speaking time ahead of the deadline for amendments.

The deadline for submitting amendments discussed in Parliament is tomorrow. What is your view on the direction the debate is taking?

Unfortunately, the debate in the European Parliament appears to be moving away from green policies and towards a more industry-oriented approach. In our view, these objectives are not in conflict and we believe that green manufacturing can deliver both economic stability and environmentally sustainable production.

You said that you were interrupted during your speech in Parliament. Do you feel you have been given enough space to influence the decision-making process?

As you mentioned, I was interrupted during my speech in a manner that had not been previously indicated, and therefore I had no reason to expect it. With this in mind, I must stress that we were not given sufficient time to express our grave concerns regarding the three-year compliance period and its interaction with the pooling system, which effectively excluded us from the discussion.

Last week you decided to boycott a press conference. What led you to make that decision?

We decided to boycott the official press conference because the way we were treated in the European Parliament was unfair, and the public deserves to know it. The meeting limited our voices, and we believed that the format of the press conference would not allow for meaningful dialogue or open discussion. Our goal is not confrontation, but to ensure respect, transparency, and equal speaking opportunities for all, as we represent the voters whose concerns cannot be ignored.

As negotiations continue in the European Parliament over proposed changes to EU car emission rules, political groups set out competing priorities ranging from stronger industry support to concerns over affordability for lower-income drivers.

Patriots of Europe representatives said that, in the context of ongoing negotiations in the European Parliament, the European electric vehicle market has been in an unfavorable position since the law was adopted and that Europe’s share of the global market has fallen significantly. They argued that the revision should help protect the European market by enabling the development of alternative solutions, including EVs and biofuels, while introducing stronger financial incentives for the private sector instead of what they described as excessive administrative burdens and bureaucracy. They said these are the points their group is seeking to negotiate.

A Renew representative said the group believes that a three-year easing of the rules, rather than a full delay, could help the European automotive industry adapt and develop a more sustainable approach to producing batteries and electric vehicles. He argued that the money companies would otherwise spend on penalties could instead be invested in developing cheaper, more reliable and sustainable EV production, which would benefit both manufacturers and workers.

An ECR representative stated that many of their voters, particularly farmers and people in poorer regions such as Hungary, Romania and the Balkans, rely on second-hand cars. He noted that owning a used vehicle is not unusual but rather the norm for many households. New cars, whether electric or conventional, remain expensive, with electric vehicles costing even more. By contrast, cars that are 10 to 15 years old can still be practical for everyday use and can often be bought for around €1,000 to €2,000, which he said is more realistic for people whose monthly salaries are around €1,000.

The European Commission has held consultations with industry representatives, including CLEPA, as well as environmental organisations in order to shape a green transition that protects jobs and maintains economic sustainability, said Tijana Lazarević, Stakeholder Liaison at the Commission.

“The Commission therefore held meetings with representatives of the industry as well as with representatives of environmental organisations advocating for a transition that is environmentally sustainable. We met with representatives from all sides, seeking to hear their concerns, their proposals, and any contributions based on statistical data that we are still expecting as a supplement to some of our ongoing negotiations. We also hope to continue working with them in a spirit of professional cooperation in the future.

Our aim is to respect both the needs of the industry and our energy sustainability goals, through which we protect the environment. At the same time, we want to remain committed to the green agenda that we have previously promoted.”

Referring to discussions with industry stakeholders, Lazarević highlighted the position of CLEPA, which represents a large number of manufacturers.

“When it comes to CLEPA, the organisation representing a large number of manufacturers, what we heard from them is that their primary concern is the protection of jobs, given that there is currently no adequate replacement for the human factor in this industry. For them, protecting workers is therefore the top priority.

At the same time, they remain quite flexible regarding those who are willing to engage in the necessary procedures required for this transition. The only condition they have put forward is a postponement of the timeline. As they stated, they support a green transition, but one that is economically sustainable.”

Turning to environmental stakeholders, Lazarević said that Green organisations also showed openness and willingness to cooperate with both the Commission and industry representatives.

“When it comes to representatives of environmental and Green organizations, they also demonstrated a strong openness, flexibility, and willingness to cooperate both with the Commission and with industry representatives. They are willing to contribute in areas where they have expertise, while being clear about the limits of the compromises they are prepared to make.

Some of them are open to compromises regarding the postponement of timelines, some are willing to compromise on targets, while others are not prepared to compromise on either.

We respect all of their positions and will make an effort to incorporate them into our proposal so that it reflects the interests of all stakeholders. For us, the European Union is first and foremost about its people, but it is also shaped by its industry and its strong economy. We will therefore strive to maintain a balanced path forward.”

Representatives of the European Commission and MEPs from the ECR, EPP, S&D and Greens groups discussed the European Parliament’s work on a new climate policy proposal at a conference.

The European Commission stressed the need for climate policies that can effectively address emissions across Europe, noting that the EU accounts for around 10% of global CO₂ emissions and that the issue must remain high on the European Parliament’s agenda.

Critics warned that the proposal could be discouraging for EU candidate countries, noting that many of them are already adapting their economies as part of the EU integration process.

Commissioner Lazar Petrović said: “We will take into account the interests of all stakeholders with specific needs. First of all, it is important to stress that the CO₂ emission reduction targets remain unchanged. As you know, the EU has had a regulation on this issue in place since 2019, and this proposal is an additional step that introduces new approaches and new ways to address the problem and consider what more can be done in the future.”

The proposal is expected to be further discussed within the European Parliament as part of the EU’s broader climate policy framework.

Milica Stankić, Member of the European Parliament representing the EPP, issued a statement today to clarify reports suggesting a potential coalition between the EPP and the ESN political group.

Statement by Milica Stankić, Member of the European Parliament (EPP):
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify this matter. I was contacted today to address a misunderstanding regarding an alleged coalition between the EPP and the ESN political group.
We would like to clearly state that we are not in a coalition with ESN. There is no formal or informal cooperation agreement between our group and ESN.
In light of this clarification, we kindly ask that further questions suggesting such cooperation no longer be directed toward us.
Thank you for your understanding.

Milan Todosijević, member of the European Parliament for the Left, outlines his position on the EU’s proposed CO₂ emissions rules for new cars. While supporting the green transition, he warns that any flexibility for manufacturers must not come at the expense of ordinary citizens, and stresses that the financial burden should fall on those who pollute and profit the most.

The Commission proposes 3-year flexibility for the automotive industry. Is this good for the
economy?
“Flexibility can be acceptable if it helps the industry transition, but only if the 2030 targets remain firm.
What we cannot accept is flexibility that becomes a blank cheque for manufacturers to delay investment.
The economic cost of inaction on climate is far greater than the cost of transition.”

Critics say the €95 penalty per gram is too harsh for manufacturers. Do you agree?
“No. The penalty exists for a reason. It is the only financial incentive that pushes manufacturers to invest
in clean technology. If we remove or reduce it, companies will simply calculate that it is cheaper to keep
producing polluting vehicles. That is not a transition. That is a delay.”

Electric vehicles are expensive. How do you make this transition economically viable for
citizens?
“An electric car costs on average €35,000. That is not affordable for ordinary families. EU funds must go
directly to citizens, subsidies, affordable loans, accessible vehicles. The transition cannot be a privilege
for the wealthy. Industry gets flexibility, citizens must get support.”

What is The Left’s overall position on this legislation?
“We support the green transition, but it must be socially fair. Those who pollute the most and profit the
most must carry the largest share of the burden. The costs must not fall on workers and ordinary citizens.
That is our bottom line.”

EU lawmakers are set to negotiate a proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2019/631 on CO₂ emission performance standards for new light-duty vehicles, including updated vehicle labelling rules and the repeal of Directive 1999/94/EC.

The European Commission said that reducing emissions from road transport is a key component of climate objectives, while stressing that the transition towards cleaner mobility must remain economically sustainable and manageable for European industry.

The current rules under Regulation (EU) 2019/631 set binding CO₂ emission targets for new cars and vans sold in the EU and are a central pillar of the bloc’s effort to cut emissions from road transport. The sector accounts for roughly a quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The proposal forms part of the Commission’s broader Automotive Package, which aims to support the transition to cleaner mobility while easing regulatory pressure on carmakers and strengthening Europe’s electric vehicle and battery industries.