Air pollution: measures to be taken against emission of gaseous pollutants from internal combustion engines

A measure to cut polluting emissions from bulldozers and diggers was adopted when the Parliament/Council Conciliation Committee gave the green light to the text of a directive on non-road mobile machinery. The aim is to reduce emissions of gas and particles from internal combustion engines in such machinery. The emissions in question include nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. In agreeing the text, MEPs insisted that, in accordance with the existing modus vivendi agreement governing relations between the institutions, the Commission inform Parliament fully of the measures it plans to adopt to implement the directive. They also succeeded in obtaining from the Commission a commitment that it will submit proposals early next June for overhauling the commitology procedure. Under this procedure, the Commission is assisted in implementing legislation by technical committees of national experts. Parliament wants to be involved in this process so that it can continue to keep an eye on things after legislation has been adopted. The directive on non-road mobile machinery was originally supposed to be transposed into national law by the end of this year but this deadline has been extended by six months. The EP's rapporteur was Mr Ken COLLINS, chairman of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection. The conciliation committee was co-chaired by EP vice-president Mr Josep VERDE I ALDEA (PES, Sp) and Mr Johny LAHURE, President of the Council and Luxembourg's Heath and Environment Minister. �