Polish ruling party opts for early review of combustion engine ban

Polish MEPs from the Civic Coalition (KO, EPP) alliance pushed for an earlier review of the 2035 ban on new combustion car selling, a proposal put forward by Italy.

On the initiative of MEP Dariusz Joński, the European Parliament debated on Tuesday (8 October) the crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures, and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe.

“Fourteen million workers of the automotive sector in Europe, including nearly 200 thousand in Poland, are concerned about the plans to ban selling new combustion cars from 2035,” Joński said during the press briefing.

He cited the data, stating that over the 22 million registered cars in Poland, only 150,000 are electric or hybrid.

“One should not fight against common sense. It is wise now to think about the review of the 2035 target,” he said, pointing to China's competition that sells cheap electric cars, partially due to the large state subsidies.

Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso proposed an earlier review of the provisions banning the sale of new combustion cars from 2035, previously set for 2026. He proposed to make the review in 2025.

Interviewed by Euractiv Poland, Joński clarified that the Polish delegation in the EPP does not oppose electric cars but wants reasonable and achievable targets.

He added that he is pleased that his and his party’s demands were met with wide support from Parliament.

“More and more political groups see that the proposals by the European Commission, like the combustion engine ban, kill European competitiveness, jobs, exports and revenues, and they didn't involve a real reduction in emissions,” another KO MEP, Elżbieta Łukacijewska, told Euractiv Poland.

She pointed out that electrification is not the only way to lower transport emissions; e-fuels and hydrogen may also be involved.

The arguments by KO lawmakers were shared by the Polish opposition parties, including the far-right Confederation.

“Polish people don't want electric cars, which are expensive, and many countries lack the infrastructure to support them,” MEP Anna Bryłka told Euractiv Poland.

Due to overregulation, investments bypass Europe, which constantly raises production costs. In contrast, in China, the costs are much lower, and the state subsidises electric car producers.

“Instead of reversing negative trends, the European Commission is rushing towards a collision with a wall. (...) Time to put an end to this climate sabbath,” she earlier said during the debate.

MEP Daniel Obajtek (PiS, ECR), former CEO of Polish petrol giant Orlen, told Euractiv Poland that the problem of high car emissions should be solved by transition, which is intended to make cars green, efficient, and cheap.

“But this transition must not be artificially accelerated. It must go its own way,” he added.

Still, there were also other points of view during the debate.

“The EU has been focusing on combustion cars for too long. If someone thinks that e-fuels will save the sector, he or she is wrong,” German Green MEP Michael Bloss said, pointing to an increase in the sale of electric vehicles.

He added that the European slogan must not be “we will not make it,” he called for more electric fleets in companies.

Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy of Dutch Democrats 66 (Renew) said the future belongs to electric cars.

“Tesla and the Americans have overtaken us. The European industry ignored the electromobility revolution and was overtaken like Nokia was by the iPhone,” he argued.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)