New emission targets for the European Union will not only provide for a better environment, but will also serve to create more jobs, better health and bring in more investment, PL MEP Miriam Dalli told the EU Parliament on the eve of the vote on her proposed legislation on vehicle emissions.
The Labour MEP piloted the study into the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from passenger and light commercial vehicles, with a set of proposals being presented to and approved by the European Parliament's environment committee (ENVI) in September.
The committee approved the proposals with 38 members in favour, 23 against and seven abstentions. The European Parliament on Tuesday debated on Dalli's proposed legislation, and will vote on whether it is to be adopted on Wednesday.
The headlining aspect of Dalli's proposed legislation is a programme of carbon dioxide reductions, wherein Co2 emissions for both cars and vans must be reduced by 20% by 2025, and at least 40% by 2030 across the EU.
Speaking about the legislation in September, Dalli had said that the legislation was a 'pragmatic result' that strikes a 'very delicate balance' between all stakeholders. She said that the set of legislation affects not just the environment or climate change, but also citizen's health, workers and the car industry itself, which is why striking the balance was so important.
The policy, she said, was written in such a manner to propose positive change and innovation. The aim was not to promote one technology over another but to make sure that transport contributes its fair share to reducing emissions.
What does the legislation propose?
The headline point of the legislation is without doubt the programme of Co2 reductions, which rise up to a reduction of at least 40% by 2030 across the EU.
However this is not the only point that this report includes. There are other points that form part of the legislation such as crediting for car manufactures under a bonus-malus system; a life-cycle analysis that takes into account a well-to-wheel analysis; compromises on job transition periods; emphasis on battery production, supply and recycling infrastructure; and the closing of loopholes that car manufacturers can use to 'cheat' carbon emission tests as was the case in the recent Dieselgate scandal.
A car labelling system will also be employed so to give up to date information to consumers to make sure that they know what they are buying in terms of running costs and fuel consumption.
What did the MEPs say?
The debate focused on various issues, with a total of over 30 speakers producing views both in agreement and in disagreement with Dalli's proposed legislations.
On his part, Miguel Arias Canete from the EU Commission said that this was a key proposal for the EU to continue delivering on what was agreed in the Paris Agreement and to the climate in general. He said that Europe remained determined to continue leading the fight against climate change, before saying that the proposal achieved the perfect balance between environmental and economical interests as well.
From the MEPs, many lauded the main proposal for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by at least 40% by 2030, praising it for its ambition and saying that it was exactly what the EU needed to continue in the fight against climate change and air pollution.
These same MEPs emphasised that transport was the only sector in which carbon dioxide emissions were found to be rising, and that measures like those approved by the ENVI Committee are what is needed to secure an environment that is cleaner and healthier for Europe.
MEP Bas Eickhout for instance said that it was very clear that Europe needs to be zero-emissions by 2050, and that Co2 measures on cars are the most cost-efficient way to achieve this. MEP Christel Schaldemose meanwhile expressed her disappointment at those who criticised the proposal for being too ambitious, saying that Denmark had just approved a decision to stop the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. "This is true ambition", she said before lauding the 40% reduction that Dalli's report proposed.
Indeed other MEPs exhibited their concerns over the proposed legislation, based on various premises.
Romanian MEP Razvan Popa for instance commented that the goals that the union sets must be realistic, and that this was a point that should be kept in mind. MEP Georg Meyer echoed this sentiment, calling the proposal "politically unrealistic" and "short-sighted".
Other MEPs such as Jens Gieseke warned that if this was approved, thousands of jobs in the automobile sector would be lost, a conclusion he had reached following discussions with a number of trade unions and members of the said industry. He called for a framework that emphasised openness, innovation and technological neutrality, before calling for the rejection of the penalty system that is also in the proposed legislation.
Dalli had said in September that she had faced 'great' opposition from conservative groups and also intensive lobbying by the automobile industry against the legislation.
MEP Peter Liese also exhibited concern, saying that the proposal was not technology neutral and that this had to be rectified. He also disagreed with the use of the malus system, saying it had to be removed from the final text at the vote tomorrow.
EU Parliament to decide on legislation today
Dalli's proposed legislation will be approved or rejected by the EU Parliament today.
In her concluding address for Tuesday's debate, Dalli took a swipe at members of the EPP group at the parliament, citing one member who had called for the "venom" of the legislation to be removed. Critics such as Gieseke and Liese in fact form part of the EPP group as well. She called those who called the legislation unrealistic, "out of tune".
Support for the legislation should be attained, but there are concerns over whether the proposals will be watered down or not.
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