Council amends Directive on measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles
The European Council has amended Directive 70/220/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles. The new Directive (Council Directive 93/59/EEC of 28.6.1993) introduces more stringent requirements based on work undertaken by the Commission that shows that Community industry has available, or is currently perfecting, technologies which allow the vehicles concerned by this Directive (light commercial vehicles) to comply with standards which are as severe as those for passenger cars. Promoting these technological developments may also be a decisive factor in improving the competitiveness of the European motor industry. Because official forecasts of increases in traffic density have been exceeded by actual developments, the Council feels that very stringent exhaust emission standards must now be laid down for all motor vehicles.