Spain’s Prime Minister Zapatero unveiled the priorities for their Presidency of the Counci lbefore the European Parliament on Wednesday, 20 January. The Spanish leader, whose country currently holds the EU’s six-month rotating presidency, said the 27-member union should take measures to promote electric car production in Europe.
“The other day I met together with a group of companies, some of the most important in Europe, and it was felt it was fundamental that there should be co-operation and integration of efforts in developing the electric vehicle,” he told MEPs.
“If our markets don’t have a regulatory framework to provide financial support, and if we don’t have common standards on the technologies, then it will be difficult for Europe to take a leading role,” he added. However, he didn’t precise if the plan will cover only battery cars or if it will also applies to hybrid, fuel cells and biofuel.
EU industry ministers are set to launch the plan at a meeting on the 8 February in the Spanish seaside town of San Sebastian.
Greater energy self-sufficiency will also be key to sustainable European growth, said the Spanish leader whose country was one of the worst hit by the recent recession.
“In the last ten years … our energy consumption has gone up by nine percent,” he told euro deputies. “We need to reduce our dependence. If we don’t reduce it we won’t be able to have any economic growth.” Together with the Spanish Hydrogen Association, AEH2,