Europe falters in the "green race".
The "green race" has effectively failed irrevocably against China, but the European Union continues to urge the industry to adopt "climate-friendly" policies.
According to RIA Novosti on January 7th, Europe's transition to renewable energy has not gone according to plan: the ban on internal combustion engines has been lifted, and the lifespan of coal-fired power plants is being extended. The "green race" has effectively failed irrevocably against China, but the European Union (EU) continues to urge industry to adopt "climate-friendly" policies.
Brussels is being forced to loosen its green transition plan. They had intended to completely ban non-electric cars by 2035, but the European Commission (EC) has now changed its mind. Otherwise, the automotive industry will cease to exist.
The push to increase electric vehicle production, coupled with heavy sanctions, has dealt a severe blow to the industry. The shift in production is costly, while demand remains low: Europeans prefer Chinese electric vehicles.
As a result, Germany's Volkswagen closed its Dresden plant, and Audi AG announced the closure of its Brussels plant. Large-scale layoffs occurred at Porsche and Ford plants in Germany, leaving tens of thousands jobless. According to research by Index for Welt Am Sonntag, the number of job openings in this sector decreased by 15% in the first nine months of 2025.
But the green agenda doesn't stop there, and industrialists will pay the price for these concessions with increased costs. The EC document states: "From 2035, emissions must be reduced by 90%, with the remaining 10% offset by the use of EU-produced low-carbon steel, as well as synthetic fuels (electronic fuels) and biofuels."
However, even such environmental concerns are difficult for the EU to afford. The German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reports that green fuel for steel mills is so expensive that the costs are not recouped.
Oleg Shevtsov, Deputy General Director of Project Engineering Company No. 7, stated that the main problem is that the existing infrastructure is not yet ready to effectively integrate solar and wind energy, which are highly dependent on weather conditions.
"Even with substantial subsidies, the reliability of green energy remains lower than expected. Coal, natural gas, and nuclear power still dominate. Sanctions have sharply increased electricity costs, which is also slowing the transition to renewable energy sources," expert Shevtsov explained.
The Netherlands and Germany have reopened coal-fired power plants. Nuclear power is no longer in use. In Germany, the last nuclear power plants were shut down in 2023.
The EU had plans to replace decommissioned capacity with green energy sources, but these plans have not yet been successful.
In Romania, the commissioning of gas and solar power plants is being delayed, leading to an extension of the operating life of coal-fired power plants. Initially, these plants were scheduled to close in 2026, but Bucharest has reached an agreement with the EC to extend the closure deadline to 2029, according to Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan. He stated that this will help curb price increases and reduce the risk of power outages during the winter.
"Coal is one of the most polluting energy sources: It produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur compounds, and harmful heavy metal emissions. But under current conditions, the EU has no other choice," said expert Oleg Shevtsov.
Namer Radi, Vice President of the Committee on International Cooperation and Export at Opora Rossii, points out a paradox: gasoline-powered cars pose a threat to the climate, while coal-fired power plants are considered an acceptable exception. But the logic is simple: the transition in transportation may take years, while electricity shortages threaten the economy today.
