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The Council held a policy debate on the amendment to the regulation on CO2 emission standards for cars and vans.
Climate neutrality and competitiveness must go hand in hand. The best way to support the automotive industry in Europe, and the millions of jobs that depend on it, is to promote innovative and sustainable solutions in pursuing the path to clean mobility. Thanks to today’s constructive discussion, the Cyprus presidency will intensively work on advancing work on this key legislative priority.
Alexis Vafeades, Minister for Transport, Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus
To support the transition to clean mobility in a more flexible way, the Commission proposal introduces moretechnology options for manufacturers to meet their targets. It lowers the 2035 tailpipe emissions reduction target from 100% to 90%; the remaining 10% can be compensated through credits for alternative sustainable fuels and the use of low-carbon steel made in the EU. The proposal also provides for incentives (until 2034) in the form of CO2 credits ('super credits') for manufacturers that place small electric vehicles made in the EU on the market.
Ministers focused on the 2035 targets and the introduced flexibilities in the context of meeting the EU’s climate targets, enhancing technological neutrality and ensuring the competitiveness of the automotive sector.
Ministers discussed decarbonisation efforts in the area of climate post-2030. Following the recent establishment of a binding EU-wide climate target for 2040, the Commission is expected to propose a set of legislative proposals in the second half of this year, to support EU countries, European industry and citizens in achieving this target.
In view of the upcoming post-2030 climate package, ministers focused on the following questions:
- how to support investments while ensuring a fair and clean transition by 2040;
- how to use flexibilities across and within sectors to meet climate targets in a cost-effective way;
- how international credits should be integrated in the post-2030 climate framework.
The Council approved conclusions on the EU bioeconomy strategy. Bioeconomy uses renewable biological resources such as plants, animals and microorganisms to produce food, energy and industrial goods.
The Council conclusions welcome the bioeconomy strategy, recognising the great potential of the bioeconomy’s contribution to replace fossil-based materials and products, create jobs and lead the global shift to clean industries.
The conclusions also provide political guidance in taking the strategy forward, focusing on competitiveness, innovation and investments to move bio-based solutions from lab to deployment, while safeguarding the environment and food security and nutrition.
Environment ministers reflected on how to enhance EU strategic collaboration and strengthen the EU’s position in global environmental negotiations in a changing geopolitical landscape, including through means and tools such as science-driven diplomacy, leading by example with solid implementation within the EU, coalition-building, better internal coordination and the strategic use of EU resources.
Informal lunch on international climate negotiations
Over lunch, ministers discussed the way forward in international climate negotiations, as a follow-up on the ministerial exchanges during the informal Council that took place in Cyprus in early February.
In this context, they started substantive preparations for the next COP in November, as a first step towards establishing EU’s main priorities, such as climate mitigation and adaptation and robust climate science, and focusing on outreach activities. This process, initiated and coordinated by the Cyprus presidency, will be taken forward by the incoming Irish presidency.
During the meeting, ministers were also briefed on the following topics:
The Cyprus presidency and the Commission reported on the 12th session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-12) which was held in Manchester, United Kingdom, 3 - 8 February 2026.
Austria, Czechia, Estonia, France, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovakia informed ministers on the implementation of the LULUCF regulation in the European Union.
Belgium, Czechia, France, Ireland, Latvia and Slovakia, supported by Luxembourg, had an information point on accelerating permitting procedures, together with a call for a comprehensive cross-sectoral approach within the environmental omnibus.
France reported on the transformation of Mercator Ocean into an intergovernmental organisation, addressing a call to member states to quickly sign the constitutive convention of the intergovernmental organisation.
Lithuania, supported by Estonia, Latvia and Poland, informed ministers on the environmental and safety implications of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Ostrovets.
