MEP Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D) has asked the European Commission whether a Member State can unilaterally require car manufacturers to achieve 0 g CO2/km emissions by an earlier date than the EU's proposed revision of Regulation (EU) 2019/631. The question, submitted on 27 May 2026, challenges the legal basis of the regulation, which sets harmonised EU-wide targets under Article 192 TFEU, and tests the limits of national ambition in climate policy.
In his written question, Pellerin-Carlin notes that the ongoing revision (COM(2025)0995) establishes identical quantified targets for all manufacturers across the EU market to ensure harmonisation. He asks whether a Member State can legally impose a more ambitious target—specifically 0 g CO2/km—and an earlier deadline than the regulation requires, potentially fragmenting the single market.
The question targets the tension between EU-level harmonisation and national sovereignty on climate action. If the Commission confirms that unilateral national bans are allowed, it could accelerate the phase-out of combustion engines in some countries but create compliance challenges for manufacturers operating across borders. Conversely, if the Commission rules that only EU-wide targets apply, it may limit the ability of ambitious Member States to push ahead faster.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether the EU intends to preserve a unified regulatory framework or permit national divergence, with direct implications for automakers, consumers in ambitious Member States, and the pace of the EU's green transition.
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