Kuban Criticizesโ EUโฃ Climate Goals, Warns of German Job Losses
Berlin -โค Tilman Kuban, economic policyโข spokesperson for the Free democratic Party โฃ(FDP), โฃsharply criticized the European Union’s push for a complete ban on combustion engines, arguing the policy threatens German industrial jobs and risks undermining climate protection efforts.Kuban’s comments come amid โgrowing debate within Germany‘s governing coalition regarding โthe pace and practicality of transitioning to electric vehicles.
Kuban pointed to Toyota’s diversified strategy – a thirdโ combustion engine, a third hybrid, and a third battery-electric vehicles – as a pragmatic approach, contrastingโค it withโฃ the EU’s more stringent regulations. He cited Volkswagen’s decision to build a commercial vehicle plant in Turkey to continue โproducing combustion engine vehicles as a direct consequence of the EU policy, questioning whether this benefits โคGerman skilled workers in Wolfsburg or hanover. โฃ”80 percent โขclimate protectionโข with prosperityโ and democracy are better than 100 percent with empty factory halls,” Kuban stated, โemphasizing theโข need forโฃ a balanced approach.
The FDPโฃ official also highlighted concerns shared by colleagues โin France,โค Poland, Italy, and Eastern European countries, suggesting the โขEU’s 2050 climate target is facing “violent โคpressure.” he urged Germany to recognize this reality and pursue โa more โฃunified European strategy.
This debateโฃ unfolds as Habitat ministerโ Carsten Schneider (SPD) champions the coalition’s ambitious 1.5-degree climate goal. Though, Kuban argues theโข SPD needsโ to consider the โperspectives ofโข workers who fear job losses due to the rapid transition. Jan Alexander โCasper of WELT reports onโ the greensโค and socio-political issues.
