Combustion engine dispute + Data Privacy Framework + Nuclear funding • Europe.Table

Dispute over combustion engine phase-out: Does Wissing risk damage to Europe?
Data protection experts: no fundamental objections to US agreement
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Heads: Udo Philipp

Dear reader,

The traffic light coalition has repeatedly been criticized for its European policy. Now there is a U-turn in the truest sense of the word. Transport Minister Wissing (FDP) is suddenly saying “no” to the phasing out of internal combustion engines – even though the trilogue has long since been concluded. This is not only unusual but could shake up the entire Fit for 55 package and call Germany’s reliability at the EU level into question, analyzes Lukas Scheid.

However, a step towards clarity has been taken about the Data Privacy Framework (DPF). The agreement for the transfer of data protected by the GDPR to the US has cleared an important hurdle: the European data protection supervisory authorities have expressed surprisingly little criticism of the EU agreement with the USA, observes Falk Steiner.

First, the EU Commission, now the European Parliament: EP employees are no longer allowed to use Tiktok on their work cell phones – MEPs and their assistants are also encouraged to take this step.

On Tuesday, France brought together eleven countries to discuss nuclear power. The goal: to promote the inclusion of nuclear energy in the EU’s renewable energy targets. After the meeting, Poland rushed ahead and demanded EU funding for the construction of new nuclear power plants, writes Manuel Berkel.

Your
Alina Leimbach

Feature

Braking maneuvers on combustion engine phase-out: Does Wissing risk damage to Europe?

Volker Wissing’s opposition to the phasing out of internal combustion engines is not new, but the current blockade comes as a surprise. If the FDP sticks to this, it risks jeopardizing Germany’s credibility in the EU. In addition, there would be a dispute with the coalition partner.

By
Lukas Scheid

Normally, the confirmation of a trilogue result in the Council is a mere formality. But next Tuesday, when the phasing out of internal combustion engines is on the agenda at the Council of Ministers in Brussels, the final vote could become a political issue. This is due to statements made this week by German Transport Minister Volker Wissing and his parliamentary state secretary, Michael Theurer. Passenger cars with combustion engines that can demonstrably be fueled exclusively with e-fuels should also be able to be registered after 2035.

This demand from FDP circles to overturn the ban on internal combustion engines is not new, but it still comes as a surprise at present. The debate has actually long since been concluded. The EU member states – including Germany and the FDP – had already agreed in June last year to allow only carbon-free drives in new passenger cars starting in 2035. The de facto phasing out of internal combustion engines is part of a revision of EU fleet limits, which requires automakers to reduce emissions in their new car fleets.

Under pressure from the FDP ministries, a recital – known as Recital 9a – was negotiated into the bill at the last minute. This calls on the Commission to propose how internal combustion vehicles can still be registered after 2035, provided they run exclusively on carbon-neutral fuels.

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