Brussels, 02/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The relevant working group of the EU Council of Ministers examined, on Wednesday 1 October, the French EU Presidency's possible compromises on the subject of the draft regulation aimed at limiting CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions from cars. The Greenpeace organisation speaks of a “deplorable” compromise that would be “a real step backward” compared to the ambitious vote on 25 September this year at the parliamentary committee on the environment (EUROPE 9748). The Committee of Permanent Representatives with the EU (Coreper) will be briefed, on Friday 3 October, on the state of progress of work on this dossier and will discuss the issue on Wednesday 8 October.
The Commission's proposal aims to reduce emissions from private cars to 120 grams of CO2 per kilometre by 2012, while the current level is 160g of CO2/km. A reduction to 130g of CO2/km should be reached, according to the proposal, through technological improvements to engines. In order to reach the target of 120g of CO2/km, an additional fall of 10g of CO2/km should be gained through technical progress of another kind (improved tyres, biofuels, etc). The environment committee has introduced into the text an average long term emissions target, namely a maximum of 95g of CO2/km as of 1 January 2020.
Points discussed within the Council working group can be summarised as follows:
Long term objective. Most delegations were, in principle, in favour of defining a long term objective, without, however, discussing figures at this stage. The compromise presented by the French EU Presidency provides for the target of 130g of CO2/km being gradually reached by 2020 to give industry the necessary time to plan investment in new technologies. In the light of an impact assessment, a decision on a long term target of between 95g and 110 g of CO2/km should be taken by 2012.
Penalties. The Presidency's text sets out penalties in the event of excessive emissions (compared to the individual target for each manufacturer) of €80 per gram but, from 2012 to 2015, it would be reduced to: €25 per gram for excessive emissions between 1 and 3 grams, and €40 for between 4 and 6 grams for the period 2012-2015. As of 2015, the penalty would be increased to €95. The Council's working group has not yet discussed the matter. It is not expected to do so until a compromise has been found on the long term objective.
Slope of the curve. The French EU Presidency suggests that the slope of the curve of emission limit values should be 60% and that the basic criterion should be mass rather than footprint.
Timetable. The text provides for the regulation to be applied in 2012 to 60% of the number of cars on the road, 70% in 2013, 80 in 2014 and 100% in 2015.
Legal base. According to the European Commission's proposal, the legal base would be Article 95 of the Treaty (internal market). The legal service of the European Parliament opts for Article 175 (environmental measures). The Commission is expected to give its opinion on the basic change, but is not much in favour of changes being made. (A.By./L.C./transl.jl)