CO2 emissions: EP adopts flexibility measures for CO2 targets

Today, on May 8, Parliament adopted a change to CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and vans.

With 458 votes for, 101 against and 14 abstentions, MEPs supported the Commission’s proposal to support Europe’s automotive sector, which is experiencing the impact of rapid technological changes and increasing competition.

The proposed change offers manufacturers the possibility to comply with their obligations for the years 2025, 2026 and 2027 by averaging their performance over the three-year period, rather than each individual year. This approach would allow to balance any excess annual emissions by outperforming the target in subsequent year(s).

The current rules set annual targets, covering five-year periods, for reducing average CO2 emissions from new cars and vans across the EU fleet. From 2025, an annual CO2 emission reduction target of 15% compared to 2021 values will be in application for the 2025-2029 period.

Next steps

To speed up its adoption, Parliament agreed on Tuesday to deal with the file under its urgent procedure. To enter into force, the draft law now requires formal approval by the Council, which endorsed the same text on 7 May 2025.

Background

The proposal is part of the Commission's industrial action plan for the European automotive sector, announced on 5 March 2025. It followed the strategic dialogue on the future of the automotive industry launched by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 30 January 2025, which involved an open public consultation and discussions with industry and stakeholders to address the most pressing challenges facing the sector.