MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Mitigating the social impact of upcoming EU rules about fossil-fuel-powered vehicles – E-002576/2024(ASW)

Source: European Parliament

The CO₂ emission standards for new cars and vans[1] provide a framework for the transition to zero-emission vehicles, which is essential to achieve our objective of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

The impacts for consumers have been analysed in the Commission’s impact assessment[2], which showed that b oth first- and second-hand car users would benefit from a lower total cost of ownership over the vehicles’ lifetime. This will be increasingly the case as more affordable zero-emission vehicles become available.

In 2025, th e Commission will prepare a progress report[3], which will look into the affordability of zero- and low-emission vehicles and the impacts on consumers of the transition to zero-emission mobility. In 2026, the Commission will review the regulation[4], which will be an opportunity to assess how to best ensure a fair transition .

The EU Social Climate Fund is established to address the social impacts of the new carbon pricing for the fuels used in buildings, road transport and small industry (ETS2)[5] on the most vulnerable groups.

The Fund will mobilise at least EUR 86.7 billion between 2026 and 2032. It will support citizens in transport poverty by improving access to zero- and low-emission mobility, incentivising the use of public transport, shared mobility services and active mobility.

Each Member State will have the option to spend up to 37.5% of their allocation to support the incomes of their most vulnerable citizens under certain conditions.

Spain is set to be one of the largest beneficiaries of the Fund; and will be able to mobilise around EUR 9 billion for measures and investments.

Furthermore, Spain can use its ETS2-revenues for measures to accelerate the uptake of zero-emission vehicles or recharging infrastructure.

• [1] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/851/oj
• [2] Impact assessment accompanying Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards strengthening the CO₂ emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles in line with the Union’s increased climate ambition.
• [3] Article 14a of Regulation (EU) 2019/631.
• [4] Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2019/631.
• [5] http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2023/959/oj.