The European Parliament's Environment Committee has rejected an attempt to tone down draft EU legislation to cut CO2 from new cars. In the Committee's vote, MEPs said carmakers should reach a target for emissions from passenger cars of 120 grams C02 per kilometre. It also opted for a new long-term target of 95g CO2/km for 2020.
In his paper to the Committee, Italian MEP Guido Sacconi had attempted to delay the full introduction of the emission limit until 2015 and halve the maximum fine payable by car manufacturers. But the Committee rejected these amendments. While many of the MEPs involved at this stage have presented this as a good result, it will mean that there will now have to be much hard negotiation with the French EU Presidency before the proposals are put to the full EU Parliament for a vote.
Unsurprisingly, car manufacturers have criticised the Committee's position. European association ACEA said the vote "threatens the future of car production in Europe", and called on the full Parliament and EU governments to restore "the balance between environmental protection and economic growth and employment" in the proposal. Although there is much more wrangling to come, what the Committee's decision does show is that the prevailing mood among MEPs is to put pressure on industry.
Click here for the European Parliament statement >
Click here for the ACEA response >