EU countries approve climate measures after long talks

29/6/2022 14:59

        European Union countries reached a deal backing stricter climate rules that would eliminate carbon emissions from new cars by 2035 following hard-fought talks that dragged into the early hours of Wednesday.
        
        The 27 EU members found a common agreement on draft legislation aimed at slashing EU greenhouse gases by at least 55% in 2030 compared with 1990 rather than by a previously agreed 40%.
        
        Frans Timmermans, the European Commission Vice-President in charge of the Green Deal, said"A long but good day for climate action: The Council's decisions on Fitfor55 are a big step towards delivering the EU Green Deal," after the meeting of environment ministers in Luxembourg.
        
        The deal on the five laws proposed by the EU's executive arm last year paves the way for the final negotiations with the European Parliament. EU lawmakers are backing ambitious bloc-wide targets and final approval of the legislative package will now require the Parliament to iron out differences with the bloc's national governments over various details.