The ban on selling new combustion-engine cars starting in 2035—once a cornerstone of the European Green Deal—has ceased to be a symbol of environmental unity. Instead, it now reflects the political and economic unraveling of the European Union. France and Spain have come out in defense of the measure, opposing Germany, which is now seeking to reverse a law it once helped push through, fully aware of the damage it’s inflicting on its own industrial base.
What began as a promise of green modernization has morphed into a battleground between the EU’s major powers. Paris and Madrid are urging the European Commission to “stay the course” and resist pressure from Berlin, whose government—cornered by the crisis in its automotive sector—is calling for a loosening of the regulations.
Germany was one of the main engines behind the Green Deal and the climate agenda that forced the shift toward electric vehicles. Today, its powerful automotive industry—Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes—is facing offshoring and growing economic losses, struggling to stay competitive with China and the United States. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to “do everything possible” to lift the 2035 combustion engine ban—a dramatic U-turn that highlights the collapse of the EU’s internal green consensus.
France and Spain, on the other hand, remain committed to the timeline, arguing that the “zero-emissions target” is “an essential benchmark for the sector.” In a joint letter to Brussels, both governments called on the Commission to ensure the scheduled 2026 review does “not undermine” the agreed commitment.
The automotive crisis is not just technical—it’s political. Germany, under pressure from industrial regions and trade unions, is rebelling against the rigidity of a regulation that threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs. France and Spain, though more reliant on EU investment, are driven by Brussels’ climate orthodoxy and green lobbying—but also by a strategic interest in exploiting Germany’s current weakness.
Caught between these opposing forces, the Commission has pledged to “analyze the effects” of the law. Yet, there’s little room for maneuver: any reversal would amount to admitting the failure of Ursula von der Leyen’s flagship policy. Brussels has made it clear that it has no intention of acknowledging even the slightest tactical or strategic misstep, no matter the consequences.
But the numbers speak for themselves. Vehicle production in Germany has dropped by 23% in the past five years, with over 150,000 combustion-engine-related jobs at risk before 2030. Meanwhile, Europe’s electric cars depend on batteries that are over 80% made in Asia. The “just transition” promised by Brussels is revealing itself as unequal, costly, and heavily reliant on foreign supply chains.
