Brussels, 20/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - There is nothing new under the EU's sun when it comes to CO2 emissions from vans. Postponed in June this year at a German initiative, Council confirmation of the political agreement reached in trialogue on the draft regulation concerning CO2 emission limits from light commercial vehicles will have to go on waiting - at least until the German elections on 22 September - a diplomat confirmed on Friday 20 September (see EUROPE 10877).
Member state representatives, meeting two days earlier in Coreper, simply drew up an overview of the situation. The same diplomatic source said: “There will soon be another Coreper meeting after 22 September and the same text will be put to the delegations”.
The German delegation has always had difficulties with the text and has called for greater flexibility and more incentives for 2020-2023, but has not submitted a written communication. The European Commission representative simply said that the suggestion will be considered.
The inter-interstitutional political agreement on the draft regulation sets out the arrangements for application of the limits imposed by legislation in force regarding CO2 emissions from newly registered vans in the EU by 2020. It confirms the objective of reaching 147 grams/km by 2020, and acknowledges that results should be better by 2025 without, however, fixing any objectives beyond 2020. (AN/transl.jl)