Est. 3min 26-09-2008 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) car_exhaust_03.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Against expectations and despite strong pressure from industry, the Parliament’s Environment Committee yesterday (25 September) voted down a compromise proposal that would have diluted EU ambitions to cut cars’ average CO2 emissions. In a last-minute turnaround, MEPs threw out a compromise achieved last week between the Italian Socialist rapporteur Guido Sacconi and members of Parliament’s Industry Committee that would have given carmakers an extra three years’ breathing space to implement carbon dioxide emission reductions. The recommendation for a compromise came after the Industry Committee voted, on 1 September, to water down Sacconi’s original report, proposing a ‘phase-in’ of the new CO2 rules so that carmakers would only be required to ensure that 60% of their fleet meets the target by 2012, with 70% compliance by 2013, 80% by 2014 and 100% by 2015. This “industry-friendly EPP-ED and PSE deal” – as termed by leftist MEP Jens Holm – was nevertheless rejected by the Environment Committee, which has the lead on the issue. Instead, it insisted on maintaining Sacconi’s initial recommendation to set an even tougher longer-term target of 95gr/km by 2020. MEPs also rejected an amendment that would have put a €50 cap on the fines imposed on carmakers for breaching their CO2 limits, backing the Commission proposal to start penalties off at €20 per excess gramme in 2012, raising them to €95 as of 2015. Any revenues would be invested in technological innovations to reduce vehicle emissions. The Environment Committee also threw out an Industry Committee proposal to allow manufacturers to count certain cars – for example those emitting less than 50g/km or running on alternative fuels – as ‘one-and-a-half cars’, as well as zero-emissions cars as three cars, thereby bringing their overall average down. It nevertheless supported the idea of handing out special credits for eco-innovations, such as energy-efficient lights, which are currently not included in the normal test cycle. “The credit associated with a technology shall be no higher than 75% of the real-world CO2 reduction,” the text nevertheless stresses. Those in favour of tough legislation on CO2 to support the EU’s climate change fighting ambitions hailed the vote. But they could yet face disappointment, as the text must still be approved by the plenary in October or November. They also run the risk of seeing their proposals largely watered down by national governments, after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced in June that they had clinched a bilateral deal on the legislation, involving “substantial” phasing-in periods, more flexibility on penalties for offenders and large credits for introducing green technologies (EURACTIV 10/06/08). Read more with Euractiv Parliament deplores national resistance to sea-safety rules A package of legislative measures aimed at protecting Europe from maritime accidents and pollution looks likely to face a special 'last chance' conciliation procedure as the European Parliament yesterday (24 September) refused to give in to national governments' attempts to water down the new rules. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions"This was a big surprise," German Green group member Rebecca Harms said after the Environment Committee vote. "There was a big fight with industry and governments, and the Germans and French were adding a lot of pressure," she noted, adding that the vote was “a vote for European consumers: with oil prices so high, more fuel efficient cars will reduce the fuel cost burden for people who are dependent on cars.” Neither the Socialist Group nor the EPP-ED group, who had garnered the compromise deal, issued a statement after the vote. British Liberal MEP and ALDE Environment Spokesperson Chris Davies, who had formerly been in charge of drafting Parliament’s report on the overall cars & CO2 strategy, hailed the vote as "a good day for democracy", explaining: "The lobby from the car industry lost. MEPs today stood up for tougher measures to combat global warming and sent a strong message to corporate lobbyists to back off.” While regretting that the package agreed yesterday was “weaker than the Parliament proposed last year”, he said it was “very much better than might have been expected given the amount of arm twisting and political threats that has taken place.” “Climate scientists are telling us we need to take urgent action to prevent the most serious consequences of climate change. Tackling the rising CO2 emissions from cars is essential and this means introducing emissions limits sooner rather than later…Without effective penalties for non-compliance, these limits would be meaningless…We hope that German Chancellor Merkel will be forced to rethink her pollution-friendly proposals." The GUE-NGL Leftist group in Parliament also welcomed the vote as “an historic moment” in which “climate triumphs over car industry”. Swedish MEP and shadow rapporteur Jens Holm said that “up until yesterday evening, things looked very bleak” but welcomed the “sudden change in position” of a number of Socialist MEPs. But car manufacturers were disappointed that MEPs had “missed the opportunity to help shape a realistic framework for the car industry”, saying the vote threatened the future of car production in Europe. “The Environment Committee has given a wrong signal today. This is bad news for Europe, especially with the overall economic circumstances deteriorating already,” lamented Ivan Hodac, secretary general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). He nevertheless expressed hope that the Parliament and member states would take a more favourable stance towards industry and succeed in striking “a balance between environmental protection and economic growth and employment, all of which are of equal interest to the European society.” Green NGOs hailed the vote, which Greenpeace campaigner Franziska Achterberg said brings the EU one step nearer to its “first effective EU law to limit our impact on the climate”. According to Friends of the Earth campaigner Tony Bosworth, the vote reflects the will of European citizens, who, according, “overwhelmingly want tough action to make new cars more fuel-efficient and cut emissions”. “The car industry must now focus its efforts on driving down emissions rather than self-interested lobbying," he added. Transport & Environment Director Jos Dings further commented that the tough short-term target “is achievable with currently available technology” and welcomed the long-term target, which he hopes will “send the message to the car industry that it needs to change its ways and put all its efforts into developing the next generation of fuel efficient cars." Background In February 2007, the Commission proposed binding legislation that would compel vehicle manufacturers to cut average emissions from new cars from current levels of around 160 grammes of CO2 per kilometre to 130g/km by 2012 through vehicle-technology improvements. A further 10g/km reduction is expected to come from improvements in other areas including tyres, fuels and eco-driving. The new legislation would replace a 1998 voluntary agreement signed with the EU's Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), which committed carmakers to achieving a target of 140g/km by 2008. Concrete measures are still to be approved by Parliament and member states, but the Commission is envisaging CO2 caps proportional to vehicles' weight, with fines of up to €95 per excess gram of carbon dioxide that is emitted (EURACTIV 20/12/07). Cars account for roughly 12% of all EU carbon dioxide emissions, the main greenhouse gas, and the legislation comes amid EU efforts to combat global warming by achieving a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020. Further ReadingEU official documents European Parliament:Environment Committee insists on 2012 target for reducing CO2 from new cars(25 September 2008) [FR] European Parliament:Sacconi Report on CO2 emissions from passenger cars(8 May 2008) [FR] [FR] [DE] European Parliament:Sacconi Report: Proposed amendments on CO2 emissions from passenger cars(18 June 2008) [FR] [FR] [DE] Commission:Reducing CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles Political Groups Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE):MEPS Defeat Car Lobby(25 September 2008) GreensPassenger car CO2 emissions: Surprise environment committee vote shifts climate protection up a gear(25 September 2008) [FR] [FR] [DE] European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL):Climate triumphs over car industry!(25 September 2008) [FR] Business & Industry European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA):European Parliament’s Environment Committee gives wrong signal(25 September 2008) NGOs and Think-Tanks Transport & Environment (T&E):MEPs stand up for fuel-efficient cars(25 September 2008) Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE):MEPs support tough action on car emissions(25 September 2008) Greenpeace:European Parliament wards off disaster on car emissions legislation(25 September 2008)
