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Germany, France agree car emissions limit
Jun 10, 2008 1:23 PM

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany and France have agreed to a European Commission goal of cutting average carbon dioxide emissions for new cars, but many details remained vague.

Merkel called the agreement to jointly support a Commission goal to limit EU car emissions to 120 grams per kilometres on average from 2012 an "important breakthrough" at a news conference with French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

But she also said there would be a "substantial" phasing-in period for broader fleets. She said details would be worked out by environment ministers.

While Germany and France appear to have saved face by adhering to the Commission's target of 120 grams per km, the key elements of how the proposed fines will be altered and how long the phasing-in period would last were not addressed at the news conference in the Bavarian town.

The Commission, as part of its plant to fight climate change, has proposed legislation to reduce CO2 emissions from cars and steep fines on manufacturers that fail to comply. It wants to meet an average limit of 120 grams of CO2 per kilometres 2012.

"We're calling for a substantial phasing in period," Merkel said. "In 2012 when new cars will have reached 120 grams that does not mean that all the cars have already achieved the 120 gram average.

"That means we need a phasing-in period for the renewal of the entire product range of the car industry," she added.

"There were very, very large differences at the start due to the different product range. I'm happy to say that we support the Commission goal of 120 grams per km from 2012," Merkel said.

Berlin and Paris have been trying to reach a compromise on burden-sharing on carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions for months.

Germany has been concerned that planned EU rules will put its luxury automobile industry at a disadvantage. French manufacturers, which make smaller vehicles, stand to find it relatively easy to hit the Commission's target.

"Secondly, we're in favour of there being long-term goals," Merkel said. "We've mentioned a framework of 95 to 110 grams per km. We can't say definitively at this point what's feasible from a technical point of view."

Merkel said the German-French agreement goes beyond the European Commission's proposal. But details remained vague.

"We're going well beyond the Commission's proposal," she said. "That's important. There will be a so-called phasing in for fleets. Fleets of cars will be viewed.