The future CO2 strategy adopted today by the EU Commission for passenger cars points in the right direction. It rightly takes an integrated approach that extends beyond vehicle engineering to include other contributions to CO2 reduction. The proposed fleet value for vehicles newly licensed in Europe, the political figure of 120 g CO2/km, is very ambitious. Through the possibility, for example, of including the use of bio fuels, it is possible to tap the potential of all CO2 reduction measures. Furthermore, we will now also have the benefit of reducing the CO2 emissions of all vehicles in Europe, not only those that are newly registered.
Glos: "I will be anxious to see the European Commission's specific proposals for shaping the framework. And we should not allow any unnecessary bureaucratic effort to develop. I have no doubt that the ecological benefits we are looking for can be achieved without endangering jobs; this is not a question of "either/or."
Important is for all manufacturers to be covered by the commitments. The efficiencies of all vehicles - whether small or large - must be improved. And in the process of doing so, the innovation capabilities and competitiveness of the automotive industry must not be impaired. In this connection, a careful impact assessment is absolutely necessary. We have to remember that more than 750,000 people are employed in this industry in Germany.
Glos pointed out that the measures show that the Commission is taking seriously the principles for better legislation in the automotive sector that were outlined in the final report of CARS 21. And he stated that Germany would work hard to convert the CARS 21 recommendations into politically binding measures during its EU Council Presidency.
