On 25 June 2026, EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra addressed the Environment Council (ENVI) in Brussels, reporting strong growth in electric vehicle sales and advocating for making zero- or low-emission vehicles 'Made in the EU' a prerequisite for public financial support. Hoekstra noted that in the first four months of 2026, 20% of new cars sold in the EU were electric, with year-on-year sales surges of 48% in France, 72% in Italy, 41% in Germany, and 41% in Spain. He argued that linking flexibilities in CO2 standards to low-carbon steel produced in the Union would support both climate goals and the EU's broader competitiveness agenda.
Hoekstra also discussed preparations for COP31, stressing the need for long-term reform paired with short-term pragmatism. He called for a united EU front focused on electrification and implementation of the Paris Agreement, and reiterated that any division among member states regarding their treatment at the UN conference is unacceptable. On climate resilience, he cited a European Environment Agency report highlighting fragmented data, uneven preparedness, and unclear responsibilities across EU, national, regional, and local levels, confirming the need for the Commission's Integrated Framework on climate resilience. The speech contained concrete proposals on EV standards and COP31 positioning, but no new numerical targets or budget figures. The policy orientation shifts towards linking climate subsidies to EU manufacturing, strengthening the EU's assertive stance on COP31 hosting rules, and advancing resilience planning.