EU Council approves targeted changes to CO₂ emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles

On Wednesday 18 February, the Member States’ representatives to the Council of the European Union (Coreper) approved the targeted amendment of CO₂ emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles.

Proposed in December as part of the ‘automotive package’ by the European Commission (see EUROPE 13774/13), the aim of this amendment is to give manufacturers additional leeway to comply with the 2030 CO₂ emissions target. It provides for the possibility of collecting more emission credits in the years prior to 2030, which can then be used for compliance purposes in subsequent years. However, it does not apply to city buses.

Coreper approved the Commission’s proposal without any amendments. According to a European source, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council wishes to “guarantee predictability for manufacturers and send a clear signal to the European Parliament that a rapid agreement is possible”. It has yet to comment on the proposal.

Read the negotiating position of the Council of the EU: https://aeur.eu/f/kt5 (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)