The Prime Minister of Slovakia wants to propose a revision of the ban on combustion engines in the V4 format at the EU summit
Bratislava – Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico (Smer-SD) wants to propose to the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán to convene a meeting on the topic of revising the planned ban on internal combustion engines before the European Council meeting (October 23 and 24) as the Prime Minister of the presiding country of the Visegrád Group (V4). He also wants to propose to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, that the conclusions of the EU summit create conditions for a discussion on the future of the automotive industry in the EU and its sustainability. Fico stated this after a meeting with representatives of the automotive industry, TASR reports.
The Prime Minister, along with the Minister of Economy of Slovakia Denisa Saková (Hlas-SD), asked employers whether, from their perspective, a revision of the ban on internal combustion engines is necessary, how it should look, and whether other decisions affecting the automotive industry should also be changed.
“There is an absolutely prevailing atmosphere that the 2035 target needs to be reformed, this target must be revised,” said Robert Fico. Any specific changes will, according to him, only be the result of negotiations, as some car manufacturers have already invested more in preparing for electromobility, and some have specifically focused on the production of electric vehicles.
The Prime Minister reminded that the automotive industry represents 10% of the gross domestic product, 44% of exports, directly employs 125,000 people, and indirectly generates another 220,000 jobs. Any negative shift in car production would, according to the Prime Minister, mean a disaster for Slovakia.
Minister Saková added that a request had come from representatives of car manufacturers for the completion of sufficient infrastructure for electric vehicles. She assured that the development of charging station construction in Slovakia is progressing successfully. A call for the construction of ultra-fast charging stations along highways and expressways is being implemented, and the interest of entrepreneurs in building public charging stations in the next call has, according to her, exceeded financial possibilities tenfold, and a new call for cities and municipalities has also been announced.
The President of the Automotive Industry Association of Slovakia Alexander Matušek welcomed the information about the successful continuation of the construction of chargers for electric vehicles. However, he believes that customers are still not ready for electromobility. According to Matušek, it is not necessary to change the deadline for the ban on internal combustion engines, but rather to relax the conditions so that it is possible to produce, for example, plug-in hybrid vehicles. He believes that the USA and China are going down a similar path. (October 9)
“There is an absolutely prevailing atmosphere that the 2035 target needs to be reformed, this target must be revised.” Robert Fico
