The 27 member states of the European Union approved, on Tuesday, a legislative text that will end the sale of new cars equipped with internal combustion engines from 2035, after Germany obtained an exemption for cars that use synthetic fuels, AFP reports and Reuters.

The validated text will oblige new cars to stop emitting CO2 from the middle of the next decade, which basically means a ban on the sale of cars that run on petrol and diesel, as well as hybrids, in favor of fully electric cars.

According to AFP, among the 27 member states, only Poland voted against this law. Italy, Romania and Bulgaria abstained on the occasion of the vote among the European Ministers of Energy gathered in Brussels.

Previously, the ambassadors from the 27 EU member states agreed to proceed to a formal adoption during Tuesday, the last stage of a long legislative process, according to Agerpres.

The proposal to revise the standards regarding CO2 emissions of cars and utility vehicles is part of the “Fit for 55” package. Presented by the European Commission on 14 July 2021, this package will enable the EU to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and reach climate neutrality in 2050 .

After months of negotiations, the European Parliament, the Community Executive and the EU member states agreed last year on 2035 as the deadline for the withdrawal of cars that emit carbon dioxide. These regulations will make it impossible to sell new cars with combustion engines after 2035. But last month, the bloc’s main policy aimed at speeding up Europe’s transition to electric vehicles was put on hold after Germany expressed, in the last moment, the opposition to this initiative. Berlin wanted sales of new cars with combustion engines to be allowed after 2035 if they use synthetic fuels.