Car-makers improve proposals for reducing CO2 emissions
The European Commission has received a new proposal from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) for an environmental agreement on reduced CO2 emissions from passenger cars. The previous proposal, discussed at the Environment Council on 23rd March, was rejected on the grounds that it contained too many conditions for the reduction of CO2. The commitments in the ACEA proposal would reduce the CO2 emissions of new passenger cars sold by ACEA members in the EU to 140 g/km by 2008. The overall EU objective is to reach an emission figure of 120 g/km by 2005, or at the latest 2010. The proposals do not contain conditions for reaching emissions targets, but are based on a number of assumptions, such as the availability of fuels of a certain quality and the market penetration of fuel-efficient engine technologies. European Environment Commissioner, Ritt Bjerregaard explained that the Commission will not be in a position to make a final decision on the proposal until the outcome of the ongoing Parliament and Council conciliation procedure on the proposed fuel quality specifications Directive. Another unresolved question in this matter is whether the proposal would still allow the EU to go below the figure agreed of 140 g/km by 2008. These questions will be the subject of further discussions between the Commission and the ACEA in the near future.