Press Release: Commission plans legislative framework to ensure the EU meets its target for cutting CO2 emissions from cars

The European Commission proposed on 7 February 2007 a comprehensive new strategy to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new cars and vans sold in the European Union. The new strategy, together with a revision of EU fuel quality standards proposed the previous week, further underline the Commission's determination to ensure the EU meets its greenhouse gas emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol and beyond. The strategy will enable the EU to reach its long-established objective of limiting average CO2 emissions to 120 grams per km by 2012 - a reduction of around 25% from current levels. By improving fuel efficiency, the revised strategy will deliver substantial fuel savings for drivers. To encourage the car industry to compete on the basis of fuel efficiency instead of size and power, the Commission is also inviting manufacturers to sign an EU code of good practice on car marketing and advertising.

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/07/46 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/46&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr

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