Brussels, 02/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - The compromise finally obtained by member states' ambassadors to the EU on how arrangements on the binding 95g/km compromise on CO2 emissions from new cars by 2020 were to be applied was greeted with relief by the EU institutions but it is still dividing industry and NGOs (see EUROPE 10974).
Valentinas Mazuronis, the chair of the Environment Council welcomed the step taken towards creating a resource efficient Europe and said that “guaranteeing the construction of alternative fuel infrastructure and manufacturing vehicles with ultralow emissions in the Union could help facilitate the work of market forces and economic growth in Europe. A resource-efficient Europe that supports the transition to a low fuel consumption economy will help us to attain sustainable growth”. Making the best of a bad situation, Matthias Groote (S&D Germany), the chair of the EP's environment committee said that this compromise shows that reason finally won out at the Council and pointed out that “it is deeply regrettable that a few member states at the Council sought to delay an inter-institutional agreement. Further delay would have meant that this legislation would have been postponed till the next parliament and would have held back innovation, with a counter-productive effect on the efforts being made to promote climate protection. It is not just Germany but the whole of the EU that will benefit from the progress made in the car sector”.
The NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) asserted that the 2020 targets would not be 95 grams/km as decided four years ago but 100g/km and that, because of Germany and its car manufacturers, European car drivers would see their fuel bills increase by €775 over their car's lifetime. This additional fuel consumption would lead to 50 million more tonnes in CO2, regretted the T&E. Greg Archer said that it was scandalous that EU countries, pressed by the Merkel government, had given into the interest of German luxury car manufacturers at the expense of the environment, jobs and the economy in general.
The European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA), however, welcomed the renegotiated agreement, which, according to Chief Executive Mac Gales, provides a clear and stable environment for investment and will help the car industry to maintain its technological leadership. He also said that maintaining extremely favourable loans and eco-innovation for low fuel emission vehicles would help to stimulate cutting edge technologies. (AN/transl.fl)