In Strasbourg, during the European Parliament’s plenary session, a debate took place on circular economy requirements regarding vehicle design and the management of end-of-life vehicles. Speaking on behalf of the ECR Group were PiS MEPs Piotr Müller and Jacek Ozdoba
Piotr Müller emphasized that this discussion is very important, “especially in the context of challenges such as competition with Asia, and above all with China.” He stated that the European Commission’s initial proposal in this area was “very far-reaching and detrimental to Europe’s actual competitiveness.”
However, the PiS politician praised the changes to the EC’s proposal introduced at the request of the ECR Group, which significantly improved the final version of the document. He pointed out, among other things, the allowance for the remanufacturing of auto parts, so that users across Europe can benefit from cheaper replacement parts. Furthermore, as he noted, provisions regarding the mandatory scrapping of repairable cars have been removed. “And thanks to this, it will still be possible to take a broken-down car to a repair shop and have it fixed,” the MEP explained, noting that “fortunately, the auto lobby—which would have liked to see these cars replaced with new, freshly manufactured ones—lost out here.” He also added that the regulations clearly affirm the owner’s right to decide whether a vehicle will be repaired or scrapped.
Jacek Ozdoba stated that when discussing the topic of cars, we must keep in mind one problem created by the European Union. He pointed out that thanks to politicians from the European People’s Party, including the Civic Platform, in a few years we will be living in a world where the registration of internal combustion engine cars will be banned, and citizens will be forced to use electric cars. “This electromobility will mean exclusion, it will mean poverty, it will mean enormous problems,” —said Ozdoba, pointing not only to rising insurance costs but also to operating costs, a lack of infrastructure, increased energy demand, and a complete overhaul—or, in fact, a fundamental change—to the way high-voltage power lines operate. “All of this spells disaster, and today we should, first and foremost, reject this idiotic idea from the European People’s Party and only then move on to other free-market solutions regarding the circular economy as it pertains to the current automotive industry,” he urged.
