FRANKFURT, Germany: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday she is determined to counter challenges from US subsidies for green technologies and to speed a currently blocked law on phasing out combustion engines from 2035.
"We have discussed our answers: negotiations with the US about interpreting the law, investments of our own, and speedier processes," she told reporters at Meseberg near Berlin. European legislative action within a fortnight would propose to unleash European aid and funds so far not used for the green transition at home, she said.
Separately, fresh from agreeing trade deals with New Zealand and Chile, the EU is seeking deals with Australia, Mexico and the Latin American Mercosur bloc by the end of 2023, she said.Commenting on the delay to ending sales of new CO2-emitting cars in the EU in 2035 after Germany questioned its support for the policy, she said the issues could be resolved.