Minister Kupka: Europe needs to change its approach, see the development in the automotive industry30/1/2025|Press releasesCommentary by transport minister Martin Kupka on the opening of talks on the future of the European automotive industry in Brussels. There is no doubt that the European car industry is in danger. We are at a critical situation, with European carmakers facing heavy penalties for failing to meet ambitious electric vehicle sales targets. On top of this, carmakers are in a difficult situation where they face strong global competition and other challenges in addition to declining sales of electric vehicles. And the solution is definitely not more subsidies for the purchase of electric cars. In our country alone, half of these subsidies went to the purchase of Tesla cars, which does not help European car companies at all. We need the European car industry to invest in research and new technologies. In such a context it would make no sense to burden the industry with heavy sanctions. At EU level we are working with Italy and we are negotiating with other partners to prevent this. What I welcome is that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has launched a strategic dialogue on the automotive industry. It is a pity that the Central European carmakers did not attend today's meeting in a stronger line-up. I invited EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas to visit Prague and Czech manufacturers. He should, according to Ursula von der Leyen, prepare an Action Plan for the automotive industry until 5 March. We will be as active as possible to have a say in the final wording of this document. It is clear that the European Commission must modify the current system of sanctions and spread them over five years. Political declarations are not enough; the European Commission must change the conditions that are currently preventing European carmakers from catching up with their competitors. Lowering energy prices and encouraging the application of technological innovation rather than rigidly following all the limits set so far is the key. The current developments in the automotive industry make it absolutely clear that Europe needs to change its approach.