EC not so tough on cars
The automobile industry and the German Government have apparently been successful in pushing the EC for looser emissions targets for vehicles, according to this Guardian report yesterday.
“The 27-strong commission is expected to vote on proposals to impose a mandatory CO2 emissions limit of 130g a kilometre on all new cars from 2012. Its original plan to set the target at 120g was shelved last week after a furious dispute.
The fresh proposal from commission president José Manuel Barroso includes bowing to industry demands for a more integrated approach to fighting climate change by raising the mandatory use of biofuels in cars from 10% to 12.5%.
Mr Barroso intervened after crisis talks failed on Monday between Stavros Dimas, environment commissioner, and Günter Verheugen, industry commissioner.”