The EU postpones the vote on the ban on diesel and petrol cars. An Italian success

The outcome of the tug-of-war on the ban on internal combustion engines in 2035 is increasingly uncertain. The new regulation on light transport emissions seemed to be a done deal, having received the agreement between the Commission, Parliament and the Council. But yesterday, suddenly, it was decided to postpone the vote. This week everything has changed: Germany – through the voice of the Minister of Transport, the liberal Volker Wissing – suddenly swerved, threatening a vote against. Adding up to the Italian and Polish opposition and Bulgarian abstention, it would lead to the rejection of the measure. At this point, the ball is in the hands of the president Ursula von der Leyenwho will have to look for a way out over the weekend.

This unexpected and unforeseeable outcome, literally a moment before the conclusion of the process, is not understood if Italy’s role is not given due weight. Giorgia Meloni was able to raise her voice because she knew she had both the full support of the allies (primarily Matteo Salvini, who immediately took up the battle) and a side in the center-left (intercom Romano Prodi). We’ll see how it turns out. Meanwhile, two lessons can be drawn. In the first place, to be effective in Europe you don’t need to shout: we need to work and build alliances. What is taking place is an action meticulously constructed between Rome and Berlin. Secondly, and even more importantly, the path of the tender proposal for the internal combustion engine had so far been without incidents, despite the opposition of the auto industry and beyond. This because European politicians (and perhaps even the media) have demonstrated a worrying allegiance to the noisy environmentalist minority. Only in the Cesarini area has awareness of the implications, contradictions and useless radicalism of the regulation been gained. In the future, it would be better to have an honest debate in the right places and times, without inferiority complexes, without fear and without demonizing, accusing it of “denial” or worse, any criticism.