(Adds context paras 3-4; summit details paras 5-8)
BERLIN, March 22 (Reuters) - The EU's planned ban on new
combustion engines from 2035 is not on the agenda of the
upcoming EU summit but talks between the European Commission and
Berlin about their differences over the plan are "very
constructive", a German government official said.
"We are confident that we will soon come to a solution," the
official said ahead of the two-day meeting in Brussels starting
on Thursday. "The discussions are very, very constructive."
After months of negotiations, the European Parliament, the
Commission and European Union member states agreed last year to
the law that would require new cars sold in the EU from 2035 to
have zero CO2 emissions - effectively making it impossible to
sell combustion engine cars from that date.
But Germany this month declared its last-minute opposition
in an unusual move that sparked indignation among some EU
diplomats. It wants sales of new cars with internal combustion
engines to be allowed after that date if they run on e-fuels.
The official reiterated Germany's position that this was
part of the EU's original agreement - "that is sometimes
forgotten".
"There is nothing negative about the fact we are insisting
on this," the official said. "This is completely normal European
procedure".
The topics officially on the summit agenda are support for
Ukraine - notably the coordinated procurement of ammunition -,
EU competitiveness and proposals for a revamp of power market
rules, the official said.
The EU should show it stood for free and fair trade by
continuing to conclude free trade agreements with other regions
such as South America's Mercosur and countries like Kenya,
Australia, India and Indonesia, the official said.
"We are in competition with China here, so it is in our
interest to remain ahead and push for a rules-based, fair
approach," the official added.
A discussion with U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres
would also focus on the impact of the Ukraine crisis on the
global south, most notably on food security.
(Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke
Editing by Madeline Chambers and Elaine Hardcastle)
Messaging: sarah.marsh.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
