German Chancellor Merkel criticizes a draft EU electric car proposal.

A leaked draft of an EU plan revealed that the EU is planning to require car rental companies and large corporations to only purchase electric cars starting in 2030. German Chancellor Merkel criticized the draft on Monday, saying it could harm the EU's crucial automotive industry. Merkel stated, "These proposals completely ignore our current common needs in Europe." She told reporters, "We cannot allow the industry to be destroyed because it focuses on technologies that may not be ready for the market by a certain date." "That's why we oppose such rigid regulations." She said, "Europe is not open enough, not fast enough, not dynamic enough, and I want to change that." She emphasized that Germany has the right to help shape the strategic outlook of the EU as it contributes funding for one-quarter of the EU's budget.