Consumers and environment: availibility of information on fuel economy of new passengers cars

The Commission supports the Council's common position which is very much in line with the position of the Commission and that of the European Parliament. In addition, the common position in some ways strengthens the obligations created by the original proposal. Concerning the two most controversial issues, that of fuel costs and of creating categories, the common position reflects the position taken by the Parliament. On the question of fuel cost, the Council's position reflects the Parliament's concern that fuel costs may promote diesel penetration and therefore fuel costs no longer appear; the Commission however continues to feel that such figures would provide an incentive for consumers to shift to fuel efficient cars. On the question of categories, the common position reflects Parliament's desire to see the inclusion of categories of cars, into the Directive, during any revision.�