Party Leader of Transport and Climate, CDU, advocates for a "straightforward" stance on the issue
In a significant development, German political leaders have expressed their concerns over the EU's proposed ban on new cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. Manuel Hagel, CDU leader in Baden-Württemberg and chairman of the conference of union faction chairs, has been at the forefront of this debate.
Hagel, who leads the state parliament fraction in Baden-Württemberg, has warned against the EU-wide ban, stating that it harms innovation, weakens the industry, threatens thousands of jobs, and does nothing for the climate. He recently met with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, along with other union faction leaders from federal, state, and European levels, to discuss the matter.
The CSU leader, Markus Söder, has also renewed his call to scrap the proposed ban. Söder, who was also present at the meeting, supports the struggling German automotive industry and believes that German manufacturers do not need a policy that tells them how a car works.
Hagel and Söder, despite coming from different political parties, share similar views on the proposed ban. They advocate for technological openness, entrepreneurial freedom, and fair rules for all drive forms. Hagel has urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz to have a "frank talk" with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about the ban, expressing his concern about representing German interests in the EU's automotive policy.
Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission President mentioned in the article, supports the EU-wide ban on new combustion engine cars from 2035. However, she has emphasized the need to combine decarbonization with technological openness and flexibility. She has acknowledged the automotive industry's concerns and the need to avoid "business as usual" amid technological and geopolitical changes.
The meeting between union faction leaders and Chancellor Friedrich Merz was held to discuss the EU's proposed ban on new cars with internal combustion engines. The need for a change of course in European automotive policy, as suggested by Hagel, has gained support from another German political leader, Markus Söder. The proposed ban remains a topic of significant concern for German political leaders, who are determined to ensure a fair and innovative future for the German automotive industry.
