EU, Germany reach deal on future use of combustion engines

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EU, Germany reach deal on future use of combustion engines

The European Union and Germany have reached a deal on the future use of combustion engines, an issue that has been closely followed by the auto industry.

The agreement will allow combustion engines beyond 2035 and was quickly condemned by a prominent environmental group.

The bloc and its largest economy were at odds over the planned 2035 phaseout of CO 2 emitting cars, but leaders recently signaled that they were close to a resolution.

Germany wanted assurances that new combustion engine cars can be sold beyond the deadline if they run on e-fuels - a request supported by parts of Germany's powerful car industry.

On Twitter, the head of EU climate policy, Frans Timmermans, said that they had found an agreement with Germany on the future use of e-fuels in cars.

The agreement reached late Friday is clear, and the way is clear, according to the German transport minister Volker Wissing.

Vehicles with internal combustion engines can still be registered after 2035 if they fill up exclusively with CO 2 neutral fuels, he said in a post on Twitter.

Sweden, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said that EU diplomats would vote on Monday to approve the 2035 phaseout law.

That would mean energy ministers could give the law the final signoff needed to enter into force on Tuesday, at a scheduled meeting in Brussels.

Benjamin Stephan, a Greenpeace campaign group, said the deal was a setback for climate protection.

He said that this stinky compromise hurts Europe and undermines climate protection in transport.

He said that it dilutes the focus of the auto industry on efficient electromobility.