Brussels- The European Union's executive on Wednesday proposed a weakened set of laws limiting greenhouse-gas emissions from vans in a last-ditch bid to tackle the issue before its mandate expires at the end of the month. "The level of ambition is not as high as it was initially, but it's still a very important decision," EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.
"If we didn't have a proposal today, whether we would have had one in the near future is uncertain," he added.
Under the European Commission's proposal, launched at the last working session of its five-year term, makers of light commercial vehicles will have to make sure that their van fleets emit no more than an average of 175 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2, the main greenhouse gas) per kilometre (g/km) by 2014.
That is a 14-per-cent improvement on current standards. Three- quarters of vans will have to meet the target in 2014, 80 per cent in 2015 and all vans in 2016. In 2020, the target will be tightened to 135 g/km.
Manufacturers who go over the limit will have to pay cumulative fines of 5 euros (7.50 dollars) per van sold if they exceed limits by 1 g/km, 15 euros for the second gram, 25 euros for the third and 125 euros for the fourth, and each subsequent, gram.
The proposed laws will "provide certainty" for van makers, who will therefore gain the "first-mover's advantage" in the global search for low-emissions technology, Dimas said.
"It is very important that the car industry in Europe moves fast," because other major players, such as the US, China, South Korea and Japan are also investing in low emissions vehicles, he said.
But the European car makers' association, ACEA, which has lobbied fiercely against the imposition of emissions targets, reacted with dismay to the proposal.
"The automotive industry ... is still suffering from a continuing credit crunch and a depressed economy," the group said, calling on EU governments to delay the introduction of targets and to offer current van users cash handouts to buy new vehicles.
However, the proposals were markedly weaker than early drafts, following what Brussels insiders described as strong opposition from the EU's industry and transport commissioners.
Earlier texts had called for the 175 g/km target to be brought in by 2012.
As a result, environmental groups reacted angrily. Transport and Environment, an influential Brussels-based group, said in a statement that "we need to start cutting carbon now, not in 2016."
And Greenpeace said that "urgent and ambitious action is what we need, not months of foot dragging and a shamefully feeble proposal with delayed targets."
According to commission figures, emissions from transport currently make up 17 per cent of all EU emissions, having shot up by 29 per cent since 1990. Vans make up 12 per cent of vehicle sales.
