Vehicle CO2 emissions: the Commission's sleight of hand

03 March 2007

Documents obtained by Eurocorrespondent.com shed further light on the non-joined-up way European Union policy is made, writes Stephen Gardner. As previously revealed, the European Commission glossed over the draft impact assessment that underpinned one of this year's biggest policy announcements – that carmakers would be forced to make engines more fuel efficient in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Eurocorrespondent.com has now seen the assessment, prepared by the commission's environment directorate-general. As well as showing that, contrary to the commission's public assurances, the policy could result in job cuts, the study also says that biofuels do not presently offer a realistic route to cutting CO2, because the technology is not sufficiently developed and the market not large enough. This is in direct contradiction to assurances made by commission vice-president Günter Verheugen when the policy was announced February 7. Biofuels, Verheugen said, would have a “rapid, direct effect” on cutting emissions. This was the main justification given for giving Verheugen's friends the car industry, which has been lobbying hard, less tough targets than would have otherwise been expected. But not to worry, because the commission has promised a full impact assessment in due course. Clearly, as the policy has already been decided, this will be a cosmetic exercise and should conveniently tidy up the loose ends. A version of this article originally appeared in Private Eye.

 

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