Oct 28, 2009, 14:47 GMT
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.
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 miss the target will have to pay fines ranging from 5 euros (7.50 dollars) per g/km if they miss by 1 gram, to 125 euros per g/km if they miss by 4 grams or more.
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.
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 in 2012.
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