EU Rebuffs German Car Industry on Emissions
Date: 30-Jan-07
Country: BELGIUM
But in a sign of continuing fierce wrangling between the environmental and industry lobbies, a spokesman for the European Union executive declined to give any new date for proposing legislation to limit carbon dioxide emissions from cars after it postponed a decision last week.
"We are not driven by a day or two, or by a week or two, but by the urge to get this right," Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger said when pressed to say when the delayed proposals would now be adopted.
Asked about a letter from the German motor industry that warned of the risk to EU competitiveness and employment from setting binding CO2 targets, he said the best way to preserve jobs was to embrace and anticipate change rather than resist it.
"We have made clear there is a need for legislation to meet the target set by the Commission and the car industry of 120 grams per km by 2012," Laitenberger said.
"What is now under discussion ... is what exactly should be covered by the legislation, that is what should be counted towards the achievement of the emissions target," he said.
The EU executive is divided, with Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, considered close to the car lobby, arguing that other factors such as tyre pressure, traffic management and driver behaviour are as important as engine specifications.
Laitenberger said the Commission would first put forward its overall strategy and make legislative proposals later. There would be a full impact assessment before legislating, he said.
The Commission delayed a decision last week to allow more time to forge a consensus.