The president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, has attended the meeting of the German Council of Ministers, days after the country showed reluctance to end combustion engines, something that Brussels hopes will be resolved “as soon as possible”. Von der Leyen has taken advantage of the moment to stress that it is crucial that the European Union (EU) maintain its position as a world leader in clean energy, for which it is necessary to improve the competitiveness and framework conditions of the sector.
“It is decisive to maintain this advantage,” he said at the Meseberg Palace (eastern Germany), where he participated in a meeting of the German Council of Ministers to address the economic prospects of Germany and Europe in the face of the “change of era” that has brought get ukrainian war.
Von der Leyen referred to the inflation reduction law presented in the United States, which, he said, brings “difficulties” for the Twenty-seven and opted that the answer must be to negotiate with Washington, make their own investments and streamline bureaucratic procedures. .
“It is crucial that the European automobile industry has access to the same tax breaks in the United States. This has been achieved with electric vehicles, but the issue of batteries and battery components still needs to be worked on,” a statement in an appearance with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz.
It is also important to invest in the clean energy sector in Europe through community aid funds and other resources that have not yet been used, he said, recalling that the EC made a proposal in this regard in the coming weeks.
Von der Leyen also emphasized the importance of removing certain obstacles in the Community market, of promoting innovation and of addressing issues such as the lack of qualified labor, which according to detecting, “has the potential to become one of the biggest brakes on the growth”.
Another of the issues discussed with the German government was “how Europe can bet more on trade”, also pointed out the president of the EC, who made reference to the agreements with Australia, Mexico and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) that the Commission aims to conclude before its term ends at the end of this year. “We have a lot to do, but we also have a lot to offer,” stressed Von der Leyen and concluded that it is about “reinforcing strengths.”
Goodbye to the combustion engine
Another of the fundamental issues that Von der Leyen discussed with Scholz was the combustion engine, and that is that the president of the European Commission stated today that she hopes that the talks on the end of the combustion engine will be resolved “as soon as possible” and reduced that the dialogue with the German Government in this sense is being “constructive”.
“Full support for freedom of technology is important. [a partir de 2035] but it is also important to maintain a balance with the climate objectives that we have also agreed on,” he said in an appearance at the Meseberg Palace (eastern Germany) with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“We continue working on it, but the talks are being very good and constructive,” he stated, after participating in a meeting of the German Council of Ministers in which he discussed with the German Executive the economic prospects for Europe and Germany.
Asked by a journalist about a possible deadline to conclude the talks, she replied that “negotiations are known to have concluded successfully when they have concluded successfully” and expressed the hope that they would prevent “as soon as possible” to offer certainty to the automobile industry .
