The FDP previously flummoxed officials with its successful push to inject a loophole in the EU’s 2035 ban on new traditional car sales — protecting Germany’s powerful auto industry.
Oliver Treib, a professor at Münster University, called Germany’s approach a “structural” problem, arguing that since coalition partners “coordinate poorly,” disagreements often only surface at the final moment.
“Within the span of a few weeks, the German government has managed to waste away the reputation for reliability and predictability they built over the course of decades,” said one EU diplomat, granted anonymity to speak candidly, during the negotiations on the supply chain rules.
The center-right European People’s Party group, Parliament’s largest, has (unsuccessfully) staged last-minute crusades to dramatically amend both the contentious nature restoration rules and stricter pollution limits for major industrial sites, including livestock farms.
But unlike the FDP, which is vying to remain relevant in national politics, the EPP is making rhetorical appeals to discontented farmers and rural voters with an eye on the EU election in June.
Radan Kanev, an EPP member who led Parliament’s work on the industrial emissions rules, criticized his political family for trying to amend his hard-won deal.
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