Brussels, 29/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - The EU27 environment ministers met in Luxembourg on 28 June where they issued unanimous conclusions giving full support to the European Commission's revised strategy to ensure greater cuts in private car CO2 emissions through legislation to stem shortcomings in the voluntary agreement signed by car manufacturers (see EUROPE 9361).
The Environment Council confirmed that the objective must be to bring the average emissions from European vehicles to 120 grammes per kilometre by 2012. A target of 130 g/km will be achieved by improving car technology and a further 10 g/km by 'additional measures' - of which no details were given. The Council conclusions note in this respect that it will be necessary to understand how the objectives will be implemented and to learn the results of the impact study before any legislation is put forward.
At the same time, the ministers asked the European Commission to ensure that there is a level playing field among all EU car manufacturers, whether producing small vehicles (Italian and Spanish manufacturers) or large cars (German manufacturers, for example).
The hopes of the European car industry (ACEA) to see what they consider to be a more realistic objective of 135 g/km accepted for 2015 have no doubt been dashed by the Council conclusions document.
At a press conference, Sigmar Gabriel, the German environment minister who was chairing his last Council meeting, welcomed the outcome, saying that the ministers had asked whether it was appropriate to stick with 120 g/km or rather to have a 135 g/km target and they had also considered extending the deadline but the Council had made its decision. The target of 120 g/km must be reached in 2012. 120 g/km through improving car engines and 10 g/km through additional measures, like sustainable biofuel, he said. There will need to be massive investment in developing second generation biofuels and some member states said that they wanted a more ambitious target but did not explain how to achieve it, he added. The Council had wanted to create incentives, he explained. When it comes to competition conditions, the Council referred back to the ideas formulated by the Competition and Transport Councils but where those two Council formations stressed that the car industry efforts had to continue, the Environment Council said that the efforts had to be stepped up in order to reach the target. It was a difference in scale, explained Gabriel. This means that all car manufacturers will be urged to contribute to the task - not only the manufacturers of private cars but also manufacturers of heavy goods vehicles and vans. The ball is now in the Commission's court, which will be preparing a draft directive, he said. The Council quoted detailed figures and a timetable keeping the deadline of 2012 and now urged the Commission to take account of this in its draft legislation to ensure an even playing field for all, added Gabriel.
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas welcomed the Council's support for a revised strategy that was part of the arsenal of tools to tackle climate change. He said the Council's conclusions sent a clear message to the car industry. He explained that on 11 July 2007, the European Commission would be holding a consultation meeting with all operators in Brussels. He stressed that 2012 was only one step in the process. In the Commission's communication published in February 2007, the Commission explained that all research efforts would need to be used to achieve average emissions of 80 g/km.
In its conclusions, the Council says that the EU car industry can take advantage of its role as pioneer through R&D encouraged by the ambitious targets for cutting CO2 emissions and through innovative ecotechnology. It calls on the Commission to draw up legislation to 'reduce the CO2 emissions from cars and to present an impact assessment'. The impact assessment must be 'as neutral as possible from the point of view of competition, and … socially equitable and sustainable.' The directive must be 'framed in such a way as to ensure that all manufacturers intensify their efforts to make their whole vehicles production more environmentally friendly in a cost-effective way.'
The environment ministers instructed the European Commission to 'come forward, as soon as possible, and before the end of 2007, with a legislative framework to reduce the CO2 emissions from cars and to present an impact assessment.' (an)