MEP Filip Turek celebrates successes in Brussels, EU succumbs to pressure and calls a summit with car manufacturers
- Filip Turek
- Aug 30
- 3 min read
MEP Filip Turek, a member of the Patriots for Europe group, is enthusiastic about the European Commission's call for an extraordinary summit on September 12 with car manufacturers who are calling for a postponement of the ban on combustion engines. Following his long-term activities in the field of protecting the European automotive industry, he has repeatedly called on the Commission in the past to fundamentally reconsider its current policy.
Filip Turek has been actively cooperating with the automotive industry through his mandate since September 2024. Therefore, he acknowledges the change in the European Union's position, but at the same time points out that a mere postponement is not enough.
“Europe is trying to transform the automotive industry with its hands tied behind its back. Banning combustion engines without a realistic alternative is an economic and technological dead end. We need an overhaul of the entire system, not cosmetic changes,” says Filip Turek, adding: “The European automotive industry is on the brink of crisis. Banning combustion engines without a realistic alternative and without the appropriate infrastructure is economically and technologically unsustainable. We need flexibility, not ideology.”
Filip Turek has been regularly meeting with key players in the automotive sector for a year now – from manufacturers to consultancies to associations such as ACEA and AUTOSAP. His goal is to create a competitive strategy for the future of mobility in the EU. ACEA is one of the two largest European associations that have warned in a joint letter to the EU that the transition to electromobility is not realistic in the current conditions.
"Europe must not lose its know-how, its factories or its jobs. If we blindly follow unrealistic goals, we will end up as importers of technologies that we invented ourselves. I will not allow that," warns Filip Turek. "Manufacturers have already invested hundreds of billions in the green transformation, but instead of supporting them, the EU is throwing sticks under their feet. The summit is a key opportunity, but it must lead to a real change in policy - otherwise Europe will lose one of the last sectors where it still holds a global position," adds the MEP.
The Patriots for Europe group, of which Filip Turek is a member, will once again request the inclusion of a resolution on the automotive industry crisis on the agenda at the September plenary session. The aim is to put pressure on the Commission to reconsider not only the ban deadline, but also the entire approach to decarbonizing transport.
Key activities of MEP Filip Turk
Plenary speeches on the automotive industry crisis, loss of competitiveness and the need to revise emissions targets (October 2024 – May 2025).
Parliamentary questions calling for flexibility for manufacturers and a review of emissions regulations.
Amendments to legislation on CO₂ emissions, plastic recycling and battery rules.
Strategic trip to Japan (June 2025) to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Japan in the field of automotive development.
Letter to Commissioners Von der Leyen and Ribera calling for infrastructure for heavy goods vehicles and elimination of fines for exceeding emissions.
Regular requests for a resolution on behalf of the Patriots for Europe Group at every plenary session since December 2024 (rejected by the EPP Group).
Committee roles: Shadow rapporteur in the IMCO committee for the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (since January 2025) and rapporteur for the opinion on the Vehicle Registration Documents Directive (since July 2025).