Air pollution: gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines, agricultural tractors (amend. Directive 74/150/EEC)

The committee adopted the recommendation for second reading (codecision procedure) by James FITZSIMONS (UEN, IRL) approving the Council's common position without amendments, thereby bringing to a close the debate about the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended to power agricultural tractors. The committee decided not to table amendments in view of the importance of having a Directive in place as soon as posible, given that it was almost four years since the first proposal had been drawn up. The longer adoption of the Directive was delayed, the worse the implications for the environment, as there was evidence that emissions generated by agricultural and forestry tractors were adding considerably to air pollution. At first reading Parliament had expressed concern about the commitology question, but new arrangements had come into force since then. The Commission would also be amending the framework directive in the near future, inter alia so as to define the commitology procedure, and would effectively deal with Parliament's remaining concerns in that area. While a couple of other issues previously raised by Parliament had not been solved, the committee felt that the common position as it stood should be approved so that the ensuing legislation, which would result in significant improvements for the environment, could be introduced without further delay.