Europe·since 26 May·335 entries
The Green Deal under revision
The EU's climate agenda has shifted from legislative expansion to implementation, simplification, and competitiveness-driven recalibration, with the Commission, Paris, Berlin and Parliament softening the 2035 car ban and delaying methane rules while adding an adaptation law.
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This week1 entry
State of playtoday 05:43
2035 Car Ban
On 22 October, Parliament's transport and industry committees backed the EPP, S&D and Renew compromise: an 87.5% cut in new-car CO2 by 2035 against 2021, with up to 7.5 points creditable for EU-made low-carbon steel. Plenary voting is planned for 23 November, followed by talks with member states. Spain opposes dropping the zero-emission objective.
Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra criticised the Franco-German plan on 28 October. Reporting of 1 November says Chancellor Merz plans to raise Japanese and South Korean objections to the "Made in Europe" preference element at the leaders' informal summit on 13 November.
Carbon Market and Trade
Negotiators agreed on 20 October to raise the Market Stability Reserve ceiling from 400 million to 700 million allowances, pending formal approval. ETS2 is still scheduled for 2028, while Poland, Italy, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia press for 2030. Parliament voted 341–225 on 22 October to delay methane import rules to 31 May 2031.
At a Montreal summit on 1 November, Canada and the EU reported progress on clean tech and energy cooperation, while CBAM remained a friction point. The 13 November leaders' summit and the 23 November plenary vote are the next tests.
What comes next
- in 21 daysPlanned Parliament plenary vote on the 2035 car CO2 compromise
Open questions
- Will member states accept Parliament's 87.5% target, which goes further than the Franco-German 90%?
- Will the Market Stability Reserve increase to 700 million allowances be formally approved by both institutions?
Who is who7
EPP, S&D and Renew negotiators European Parliament centrist groups
Their compromise keeps a 95% overall 2035 new-car CO2 cut, with 87.5% from vehicle technology and up to 7.5 points from EU-made low-carbon steel, and the committees backed it on 22 October.
24 Oct
Germany EU member state government
Agreed with France to seek a 90% CO2 cut for new cars in 2035 with no offsets; Parliament's centrist groups have now gone further, with 87.5% under a steel condition.
20 Oct
France EU member state government
Agreed with Germany to soften the 2035 target while pushing for public support that favours EU-made vehicles.
22 Oct
European Commission EU executive
Proposed the first Climate Resilience Law on 27 October, after approving Italy's gas-cost cap, declining its ETS requests and proposing a one-year methane delay that Parliament has doubled.
27 Oct
Poland EU member state government
Rejects routing 30% of ETS auction revenue into the EU budget and may block the 2028-2034 package; pressed for ETS2 delay to 2030 and rules out a return to Russian gas.
26 Oct
Italy EU member state government
Had its gas-cost cap approved by the Commission but its ETS requests were declined; it also pressed for ETS2 delay.
22 Oct
European Parliament EU legislature
Voted 341-225 to delay methane import rules to 31 May 2031, and its committees backed a softer 2035 car CO2 compromise.
22 Oct
Promises2
European Commissionopen
Member states will have to complete national climate-risk assessments every five years from 2029 and resilience plans by end-2030 under the proposed Climate Resilience Law.
27 Oct · resilience plans by end-2030 · politico.eu
European Councilopen
EU leaders will update the assessment of ETS2 and review its design and safeguards for vulnerable households.
15 Oct · elpais.com
Chronicle335 entries since 26 May
26 October – 1 November1 entry
The Commission presented the EU's first Climate Resilience Law on 27 October, requiring national climate-risk assessments every five years from 2029 and resilience plans by end-2030. It estimates adaptation investment needs of about €70 billion a year by 2050 and plans for a world nearing 3°C.
19–25 October5 entries
MEPs voted 341–225, with six abstentions, to postpone methane monitoring, reporting and verification requirements for oil, gas and coal importers until 31 May 2031. That is two years beyond the Commission's proposed delay. The position must still be negotiated with the Council.
Parliament's transport and industry committees backed on 22 October the EPP, S&D and Renew compromise cutting new-car CO2 by 95% against 2021 by 2035, with 87.5% via vehicle technology and up to 7.5 points from EU-made low-carbon steel. Plenary votes next.
Member-state and Parliament negotiators agreed on 20 October to lift the ceiling in the ETS Market Stability Reserve from 400 million to 700 million allowances, creating a larger buffer against industrial price spikes. Both institutions must still approve the deal formally.
Negotiators from the EPP, S&D and Renew agreed on 20 October to an 87.5% new-car CO2 cut by 2035 against 2021 with EU-made low-carbon steel, going beyond the Franco-German 90% proposal. Committee and plenary votes are still needed before it becomes Parliament's position.
The European Commission and foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas presented an Arctic strategy in Strasbourg on 20 October. It plans satellite monitoring, a subsea cable hub and possible joint icebreaker purchases, while keeping fossil fuels in the ground.
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