The newly appointed rapporteur of the European Committee of the Regions on the Automotive Package, María Chivite, together with Guido Guidesi, Chair of the Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA) and Franck Leroy, Vice-Chair of the ARA, respond to today's publication of the Automotive Package by the European Commission.

María Chivite (ES/PES), President of the Navarra region, said: "The European Commission's new automotive package marks a defining moment for our industries and the regions that depend on them. Europe must work hand in hand with its regions, using indicators that enable precise, cohesion-driven action and equal opportunities. This plan should be an opportunity to move forward and bridge gaps, driving a successful transition toward a sustainable Europe that leads in technological innovation. Backtracking on the 2035 zero-emissions target risks undermining not only Europe's competitive edge but also its climate leadership. Yet this is no time for hesitation, it is time for action. What truly matters is ensuring that production remains anchored in our regions, with European components, and achieving a just and ambitious transition for our economy, serving both people and the planet. This principle will guide my work as rapporteur for the European Committee of the Regions on this package."

Guido Guidesi, Regional Minister for Economic Development of the Lombardy region, stated: "It appears to be a step forward, which will need to be verified in the technical documents; however, even if what seems to be emerging is confirmed, much more will be required. The opening coming today from Brussels is the result of extremely intense and demanding work that began in 2022. Future mobility will be environmentally, economically and socially sustainable only if all technologies play a leading role, including internal combustion engines. Ideology, rigidity and a failure to listen have led to an extremely difficult economic situation and have put the entire sector at risk. Today, the Commission takes a step forward toward rationality, the market and consumers, but much more will be needed to save the sector. Above all, what is needed is a Commission that does not turn a blind eye to the evidence. Regions will continue to fight in any case."

Franck Leroy, President of the Grand-Est region, noted: "The package of measures presented today, long awaited by the entire sector, marks a decisive step: it finally clarifies the European trajectory for the future of the automotive industry and its decarbonisation. The choices to come will determine our ability to protect jobs, businesses and know-how across all our territories. These measures are necessary but not sufficient: Europe must swiftly equip itself with tools commensurate with the challenge in order to restore the sector's competitiveness in the face of increasingly aggressive international competition. We will be particularly vigilant regarding the upcoming proposals on the decarbonisation regulation and the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) - notably the Competitiveness Fund - which must fully involve the regions and provide them with the means to act.

The CoR opinion on the Automotive Package is expected to be presented in 2026.

Background

• The Automotive Regions Alliance is an initiative of the European Committee of the Regions, consisting of 40 participating regions, that aims to ensure that the sustainable transformation of road transport and the automotive sector in the EU that leaves no region behind. It brings together regions with a strong automotive sector that want to play an active role in decarbonising the transport sector and contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal, to ensure a just transition for automotive regions.

• The just transition in Europe's automotive regions is of central importance to the ARA and the Committee of the Regions. In the CoR opinion on "A just transition for all EU regions", by rapporteur Marco Marsilio (IT/ECR), President of Abruzzo region, local and regional leaders call for targeted EU funding and a technology neutral approach to ensure a just transition that does not compromise the competitiveness of Europe's regions and industries.

Contact

Theresa Sostmann Tel: +32475999415 [email protected]