EU tightens air pollution limits for trucks

The International Road Transport Union (IRU) generally reacted positively to Euro standards, describing them as a good means of controlling pollutant emissions. "Our members are ready to get cleaner vehicles once they are on th emarket," said IRU's European delegate Michael Nielsen, adding that financial incentives for industry could speed up the fleet renewal.

Parliament's draftsman, German Socialist MEP Matthias Groote, described the package as "a good compromise" and "an important instrument" to achieve better air quality.

Environmental NGOs, namely the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and Transport and Environment (T&E), welcomed the adoption of the Regulation setting air pollution limits for new lorries and buses sold in Europe from 2012-13. 

However, "lorries have a nasty habit of looking a lot cleaner in the testing laboratory than in the real world. Close monitoring will be needed to ensure nitrogen oxides and other harmful emissions really go down," warned T&E Director Jos Dings. 

"Member states should back the early introduction of Euro VI vehicles and retrofitting of existing vehicles with financial incentives" to help local authorities improve urban air quality and the quality of life of European citizens, said EEB policy officer Dragomira Raeva. However, Euro standards alone are not enough to meet urban air-quality targets and local authorities will need to "support the introduction of clean vehicle technology and adopt wider mobility management practices, such as the designation of low emission zones in the cities," she added.