EU parliament gives carmakers extra time to implement CO2 cuts

STRASBOURG – MEPs have given Europe’s carmakers a three year reprieve on controversial EU proposals aimed at reducing CO2 emissions.

In an own-initiative report drafted by German liberal MEP Jorgo Chatzimarkakis on the regulatory framework for the motor vehicle industry (CARS 21) deputies agreed that manufacturers should be given more time to meet mandatory Europe-wide CO2 cuts.

MEPs recommended an average target for carmakers of 125g/km of CO2 emissions by 2015, a less restrictive figure than the European commission’s original proposal of 120g/km by 2012.

Chatzimarkakis said that the adopted report was a step forward and a realistic option for the automobile industry at the current time.

“I am very pleased that the CARS 21 report has been approved. We want to take a realistic approach to what’s going on. We want to give the automobile industry targets which they can realistically achieve,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The 125g/km by 2015 target matches that agreed by MEPs on a similar report by fellow liberal MEP Chris Davies late last year.

“Here we’ve sent a clear message to the commission. With Chris Davies’ report, together with mine…we have had two clear decisions and we have said we want 2015 and 125g/km, full stop,” Chatzimarkakis added.

Although welcoming the similar targets, Davies said during Monday’s debate preceding the vote that he was disappointed with the way that the CO2 target values had been calculated.

Davies report focused on applying the CO2 target values on the basis of each vehicle's CO2 emissions with its “footprint” (track width times wheel base).

However, the Chatzimarkakis’ report states that that these CO2 targets should be applied on the basis of a sliding scale depending on the weight of the car.

What this means in practice is that the larger the car, the more it is allowed to emit.

“I’m sorry that the rapporteur has proposed target values based on weight. This goes contrary to the vote held in October. Please, let’s try and be consistent,” Davies said.

Chatzimarkakis however defended the decision to change the method used to determine how the CO2 limits will be applied.

“Weight is the most transparent parameter. Of course, it would be much easier just to place a very high tax on fuel, but of course any politician who did that would not be elected again,” said Chatzimarkakis.

Green co-president Monica Frassoni however slammed the decision.

“The report is not only negative but counter-productive. Here, the emphasis is just on competitive advantage, and seems to say that it’s not that important to reduce CO2,” she said.

“We will continue to fight this battle, which we don’t believe has concluded…we are really worried about the message that this [report] gives out,” she added.

But EU Industry commissioner Günter Verheugen, who clashed with environment chief Stavros Dimas in December over the proposals, told MEPs that imposing stricter penalties on bigger cars was the wrong approach.

“If it’s immoral to drive a big car, then it’s equally immoral for one family to live in a big house that costs more to heat,” he said during Monday’s debate.

“This argument means that what is expected is a lifestyle change in Europe. This is not what the commission is aiming for,” he added.

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