Luxembourg, 21/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - At the request of the Dutch delegation, the Environment Council held, on Monday 20 October in Luxembourg, a brief informal exchange of views on the draft regulation aimed at making it an obligation for automobile manufacturers to bring average CO2 emissions in new cars down to 130 g/km by 2012, with penalties for each gramme exceeding this amount. Jean-Louis Borloo, Council President-in-Office, said the debate showed “delegations are giving greater support” to a highly controversial text. Addresses made were on the Presidency's compromise to phase-in reduction efforts by gradually stepping them up between 2012 and 2015 and to ease financial sanctions (this running counter to the ambitious vote by the Parliament's environment committee), and also on the longer-term objective that does not contain the initial European Commission proposal (EUROPE 9753).
Delegations taking the floor were in favour of a longer-term objective of 95 g/km by 2020 (Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Ireland), except for Germany which was in favour of a 95-110 gramme range. A number of countries remain hostile to a longer-term objective, as does Slovakia. Italy, for its part, calls for an impact study to be carried out prior to fixing such an objective. The United Kingdom and Austria call for an “ambitious target” but do not give figures.
On the matter of phasing-in reduction efforts, the Netherlands is hostile to efforts required for 2020 only covering 60% of a maker's production (70% in 2013, 80% in 2014 and 100% in 2015). They were joined in their criticism by Ireland. Belgium considers the formula “acceptable” but would like a greater effort to be demanded of each maker as of 2012. The United Kingdom states it understands the concerns put forward by Germany. Spain, Slovenia and the Czech Republic may agree to phasing-in emission reduction efforts. On the matter of financial penalties, all consider these should be credible, simple to apply and dissuasive so that it is more advantageous to abide by the legislation than to pay off the fines.
Transit countries which do not have a motor industry, such as the Benelux countries and Austria, made a link between this future regulation on CO2 emissions from new cars and the climate/energy legislation for sectors not covered by the emissions trading system (ETS). As transport is one of the “non-ETS” sectors, they fear they may not be able to attain their climate goal and to have to pay more than they should because of the pollution caused by vehicles produced elsewhere but which cross their territory. (A.N./transl.jl)