EU parliament backs new car emission targets

Despite reports of strong lobbying, the European parliament’s environment committee has endorsed EU plans to reduce CO2 emissions from new passenger cars.

The European commission had proposed that the average new car should emit no more than 130 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre by 2012.

Despite "huge" pressure from the car industry lobby, committee members backed the executive’s proposals by 46 votes to 19 at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

They also voted in favour of a long-term target of 95 g/km by 2020 though that target will be subject to a review in 2014.

Also approved were plans for penalties for carmakers who fail to comply with the new targets.

The committee decision was criticised by Italian Socialist MEP Guido Sacconi, parliament’s rapporteur on the issue, who had recommended a phasing in of the proposals. The committee rejected his suggestion that only 70 per cent of new cars should be obliged to comply with the new target by 2012 and 80 per cent by 2014.

An earlier vote by the industry committee had called for a postponement and weakening of the short-term target to 2015 but this too was rejected by the committee.

Sacconi told a news conference afterwards he would now seek to hammer out a "compromise" on the issue.

"I am not going to lose any sleep over this," he said, "but I would have hoped the committee might have thought through these proposals a bit more."

His comments were echoed by Socialist group leader Martin Schulz who said Sacconi’s proposals had been "carefully crafted."

He said, "Clearly, we will need to spend more time on this than was anticipated but I am confident we can reach a compromise between ecological and economic concerns."

Reaction to the vote was swift with German Green deputy Rebecca Harms saying, “This vote is a watershed for climate protection in parliament. MEPs have voted to introduce meaningful rules for tackling the damaging climate impact of cars by reducing their CO2 emissions”.

“It is also a vote for European consumers: with oil prices so high, more fuel efficient cars will reduce the fuel cost burden for people who are dependent on cars”.

“MEPs stood firm in the face of intensive lobbying from the car industry and voted to maintain the ambition of the original commission proposal for reducing average CO2 emissions from cars”.

Swedish GUE deputy Jens Holm also expressed satisfaction, saying, "This is an historic moment. Up until yesterday evening, things looked very bleak. However, when I and my colleague from the Green group asked for roll-call votes on certain amendments, a number of PES members suddenly changed position."

Party colleague Roberto Musacchio, deputy chairman of parliament's temporary committee on climate change, said, "We have finally taken some meaningful commitments with definite emission reductions and precise deadlines. This vote represents a fundamental point of reference to guide technological innovation, to participate in the fight against climate change and to reassure enterprises."

More comment came from UK Liberal MEP Chris Davies, who said, "The lobby from the car industry has lost. MEPs today stood up for tougher measures to combat global warming and sent a strong message to corporate lobbyists to back off.

"The package is weaker than the parliament proposed last year but very much better than might have been expected given the amount of arm twisting and political threats that has taken place. The deal struck between the EPP and PES groups to weaken commission proposals was defeated. There will be no loopholes and no reduction of the fines. Today's vote is a victory for people who believe we have to fight climate change."

"We now go into negotiations with the council of ministers with the aim of putting the legislation on the stature book before the end of the year."

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