MEPs are ready to negotiate with Member States on new measures to reduce CO2 emissions from heavy duty vehicles

On last Tuesday, Parliament adopted its negotiating position with 445 votes in favour, 152 against and 30 abstentions.

MEPs want strong CO2 emissions reduction targets for medium and heavy trucks, including vocational vehicles (such as garbage trucks, tippers or concrete mixers) and buses. The targets would be 45% for the period 2030-2034, 65% for 2035-2039 and 90% as of 2040.

They agree with the Commission proposal to allow the register only of zero-emission new urban buses from 2030 and they propose a temporary exemption (until 2035) for urban buses fuelled by biomethane, under strict conditions.

Rapporteur Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, NL) said: “The transition towards zero-emission trucks and buses is not only key to meeting our climate targets, but also a crucial driver for cleaner air in our cities. We are providing clarity for one of the major manufacturing industries in Europe and a clear incentive to invest in electrification and hydrogen. We are building on the Commission’s proposal by expanding the scope and adapting several targets and benchmarks to catch up with reality, as the transition is moving faster than expected.””

Press conference

Rapporteur Bas Eickhout will brief journalists after the vote on Tuesday, 21 November, at 13.30 CET, in the Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room (WEISS N -1/201) in Strasbourg). You can watch the livestreaming and a recording of press conference on Parliament’s website.

Next steps

Parliament is now ready to start talks with EU governments on the final shape of the legislation.

SOURCE: Press release – European Parliament