Passenger Cars - UK opens debate on EU Voluntary Agreements and car labelling
Fri 02 April 2004
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The UK Government has written to the European Commission with initial views on two key pillars of the EU’s CO2 strategy for passenger cars.
As part of the current review of the CO2 voluntary agreements between the European Commission and European, Japanese and Korean car manufacturers, the UK Government strongly supports a voluntary approach at EU level which should continue to focus on improvements in average new car emissions, taking account of the full range of technological and commercial factors while being embedded in a long-term forward horizon. Recognising the technical trade-off between air quality and CO2 reductions, the letter suggests that such a forward horizon should also be accompanied by an equivalent long-term horizon on air quality standards. Other comments include the need to explore the potential for fuel efficiency improvements for heavy goods vehicles and buses.
In a separate letter on car labelling, the Government reported to the Commission on the impact of the current label in the UK and the findings of a MORI study commissioned by the Department. The UK Government recommends an early adoption of a Europe-wide, colour-coded ‘A-G’ labelling system, on an absolute basis covering all cars, as the most effective tool in terms of supporting the achievement of the Voluntary Agreements on new car CO2 emissions. The Passenger Car Working Group will discuss both issues at its next meeting on 12 February 2004.
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