Air pollution: emissions of gaseous and particulate pollutants from diesel engines (amend. Direct. 88/77/EEC)

Of the 24 amendments adopted by the Parliament during its first reading, the Commission took up 10 of them either in their entirety or partially. In the Commission's opinion, it would be premature, given the current state of affairs, to propose compulsory limits and complementary technical measures to apply from 2005 without first undertaking the necessary studies. It agreed with a number of amendments that reflect the agreement reached in the Auto-Oil conciliation. The Commission accepted the essence of the amendments that provide for an extra line in the emission limit tables to contain the emissions limits for 2005, that the Commission is to propose before the end of 1999. In line with the views of the Parliament, the Commission considers that on-board diagnostic systems should become obligatory for heavy goods vehicles from October 2005. It accepts the principle of the Parliament's amendments regarding fuel quality. Lastly, the Commission accepted certain amendments which relate to studies in the future and the development of a world harmonised test cycle, the revision of reference fuels used for tests for the 2005 limits and the development of more environmentally friendly emission limits for gas fuelled vehicles.�