Air pollution: emissions from motor vehicles, Auto-oil programme (amend. Directive 70/220/EEC)

A package of anti-pollution measures - the Auto-Oil Programme - designed to clean up road transport in Europe got the green light from the Environment Committee - subject to a raft of amendments. The recommendation is concerning passenger cars (Mr Bernd LANGE (PES, D) and is calling for tighter limits on exhaust emissions. The texts convey the committee's reaction to the Auto-Oil Programme, a collaborative venture between the Commission and the auto and oil industries which was launched four years ago when Parliament and the Council asked the Commission to devise a strategy to reduce road vehicle emissions with the aim of improving air quality. The proposals to improve fuel quality and toughen emission limits prescribe action in two stages: by 2000 and 2005. While it is generally agreed that the first stage should be mandatory, Council and Commission want the last stage to be simply indicative. Rejecting this view, however, the committee decided that there should be mandatory specifications for 2005. The committee adopted it unanimously, concerns the Auto-Oil Programme's key proposal since improved fuel quality will benefit new vehicles. It dealt among other things, with the need for on-board diagnostic systems and in-service surveys. Mr Lange resubmitted most of Parliament's first reading amendments. The recommendation was adopted by an overwhelming majoríty, while his report on light vehicles was adopted unanimously.�