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Meloni warns EU's green policies could lead to 'industrial desertification.

Giorgia Mello, the Italian prime minister, warned on Saturday against rigid green policies that could destroy Europe's industrial base. She called for a more conservative approach to ecological transition in order to protect economic and social stability.

Meloni, after a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the European Union’s push for electrification in particular the automotive sector could undermine the manufacturing strength of the continent.

Meloni, a reporter in Rome, said: "I've often said that there is no green in a desert." "Before we do anything else, it is important to fight desertification in the European industry."

She stated that alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and biofuels, must play a key role in Europe's eco-strategy.

Meloni criticized the EU's previous regulatory approach, saying that it was too rigid and had "crushed", sectors such as the automotive industry. She expressed concern about Europe's dependence on non-European electric vehicle supply chain dominance, calling it a strategic weakness.

She said: "I still believe that it is counterproductive to concentrate solely on electric transition where supply chains are not under the control of Europe but other actors."

Meloni called on the European Commission (EC) to revise key aspects of so-called Green Deal. This includes new emission calculations that take into account the entire vehicle production cycle, and not just the tailpipe emissions.

The European Parliament voted earlier this month to relax rules for European automakers. This means they won't have to meet EU CO2 emission targets for cars and trucks that could have resulted in fines up to 17 billion euros (15 billion euros).

After heavy lobbying by automakers, the European Commission has proposed that they meet their targets using the average emissions for the period of 2025-2027 rather than this year.

Meloni added that bilateral cooperation in the automotive industry could have a significant impact. (Reporting and editing by Crispian B. Balmer)

(source: Reuters)