EU law on car emissions

The European Commission will soon propose binding legislation to force auto makers to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from new cars, a newspaper quoted Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas as saying.

The European Union's executive has long threatened to introduce binding rules if car makers do not meet a voluntary target to reduce CO2 emissions to an industry average of 140 grams per kilometre by 2008 and 120 g/km by 2012.

"We will be bringing out legislation to cut CO2 emissions from cars soon," Mr Dimas told the weekly European Voice.

"It looks like there is no way manufacturers will meet the 140 (g/km) target in time."

He told the paper the draft law would mirror the carmakers' voluntary agreement, though details were still under discussion.

A spokesman for Mr Dimas confirmed his comments.

"We will put forward legislation," she said.

Under the agreement Asian carmakers have until 2009 to meet the 140 g/km target for new cars sold in Europe, while US carmakers are technically not covered by the pact.

In August the Commission said average CO2 emissions from new cars in the 15 "old" EU member states in 2004 were down 12.4 per cent from 1995 levels, far off the target of a roughly 25 per cent cut by 2008/09 envisioned in the agreement.

Carmakers oppose binding rules. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association has called on policy makers to create tax incentives to prod consumers to buy less-polluting cars. It says consumer demand for safer, larger cars has had a counterproductive effect on reducing emissions.