• Carmakers gain flexibility: Compliance will be measured over 2025–2027, not annually, easing pressure during the EV transition.
• Regulatory clarity secured: The Council fully endorsed the European Commission’s proposal with no amendments.
• Fast-track adoption likely: European Parliament vote on May 8 may result in swift enactment, pending legal review.

The Council of the European Union has endorsed a key amendment to CO₂ emissions regulations for new passenger cars and vans, granting automakers a more flexible path to meet 2025 emissions targets.

Under the approved mandate, compliance will be assessed as a three-year average across 2025, 2026, and 2027, instead of annually. This approach aligns fully with the European Commission’s original proposal.

“The amendment… aims to provide car manufacturers with flexibility to meet their emissions targets for 2025,” the Council stated.

The decision is part of the broader Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector, released on March 5, 2025, which seeks to support the industry’s shift to cleaner technologies through regulatory certainty and operational breathing room.

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“The Commission underlined the urgency to adopt the proposal to provide car manufacturers with certainty as regards the 2025 target.”

The Council’s stance now becomes its formal negotiating position. The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on May 8. If the Parliament adopts the draft without changes, and following a legal-linguistic review, the regulation will be formally enacted without further negotiation.

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