German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said talks were constructive with the European Union in resolving a dispute over plans to ban new combustion-engine cars in the bloc from 2035, after Berlin derailed the effort this past week.
Scholz met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of a government retreat in Meseberg north of Berlin on Sunday. The chancellor expressed optimism a deal could be reached and said discussions would continue in the coming days.
Germany has put pressure on the commission, the EU’s executive arm, to come forward with a proposal that would allow combustion cars running exclusively on so-called e-fuels to continue to be sold after cut-off date. A final vote on the issue was due to take place on March 7 but was indefinitely delayed amid fears that Germany could abstain, which would torpedo the regulation.
