The EU Green Deal and Automotive Package: Competitiveness alongside innovation

CESI and FISMIC-CONFSAL call on the EU institutions: The upcoming EU Automotive Package must ensure a balanced approach between climate ambition for the Green Deal, social sustainability and industrial resilience. The Automotive Package must put at its centre realistic, technologically neutral rules capable of supporting employment, supply chains and innovation.

A revision of CO₂ standards for cars and vans as foreseen in the Package is a crucial opportunity to prevent competitive imbalances, especially in light of the recent regulatory rollbacks in the car industry in the United States.

As the international automotive environment evolves rapidly, CESI and FISMIC-CONFSAL underscore key priorities to guarantee European competitiveness and capability in its car industry are not left behind. As such, the Automotive Package must ensure:
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• full technology neutrality in the car industry, including electric, hydrogen, advanced hybrids, biofuels and e-fuels
• flexibility on intermediate objectives (2025–2027 and 2030) and avoidance of unsustainable fleet-compliance penalties
• a clear review of the current system of EU fleet-compliance sanctions, which must not jeopardise production, investment or employment during current transitions
• a dedicated roadmap for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) and immediate investment in supporting infrastructure
• defending Europe’s car industry from global unfair competition
• protecting workers affected by transitions through reskilling programmes and structured social dialogue

CESI and FISMIC-CONFSAL call for an Automotive Package which reflects a Green Deal based on provisions that are fact-based, sustainable and proportioned to the EU’s industrial capabilities.

FISMIC-CONFSAL President Roberto Di Maulo commented:
“The industrial and automotive ecosystem is vital for Italy and for Europe. Regulation must accompany innovation, not stifle it. Protecting jobs and competitiveness is essential to ensuring a truly sustainable transition.”

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said:
“Europe cannot afford a transition that erodes its industrial capacity or leaves workers behind. We support ambitious climate action, but realism, technology openness and social fairness are essential.”

The full joint statement is available here.