Brussels, 16/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 16 June, the European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee adopted the draft opinion on reducing pollutant emissions from road vehicles, put forward by Rapporteur Elzbieta Lukacijewska (EPP, Poland). In one of the compromises retained, MEPs called on the European Commission to include methane emissions in the calculation of CO2 emissions and to make a legislative proposal to this end.
Among the main proposals made, the project calls for extending the obligation to all vehicles to provide a Fuel Consumption Meter (FCM) and Gear Shift Indicator (GSI). The FCM provides drivers with accurate information about the vehicle fuel consumption, while the GSI indicates the optional gear position for consuming as little fuel as possible.
It will be the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee that will introduce the overall legislation on this question. The draft text introduces amendments to Regulation No. 715/2007 and No.595/2009, a value limit for nitrogen oxide (NO2) emitted by diesel vehicles and for ammonia (NH3), which is expected to be exclusively applied to positive ignition engines. The draft report also plans to introduce delegated powers to the Commission on this question.
The debate on the amendments is expected to take place on 25 June next at the ENVI committee, which will vote on it on 15 July. The plenary vote is expected to take place in October. (Pascal Hansens)