| The theme of the meeting was Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Motor Industry – Is an integrated approach really possible? The debate was based on the recommendation from the CARS21 High Level Group that the automotive industry adopt an integrated approach to important societal interests such as reducing CO2 emissions from passenger cars.
It was a timely subject with the European Commission set to publish a communication about its proposals to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles. The importance of the debate was demonstrated by the presence on the discussion panel of the European Commission’s Vice-President in charge of Enterprise and Industry, Günter Verheugen, and Commissioner for Environment, Stavros Dimas.
Martin Callanen MEP, who was also one of the panellists at the event, commented: "The forum was both informative and a useful platform to discuss all the issues surrounding the CO2 dossier. I found the debate extremely constructive and the importance of the issue was demonstrated by the presence of both Commissioners.”
The argument, which was put forward by CARS21 in 2005, is that improving competitiveness and progressing in fields like the environment and road safety should and can go together. At the time, FIA President Max Mosley commented: “By integrating plans to reduce vehicle emissions with complimentary policies of Member States such as fiscal incentives, the effectiveness of the EU strategy to tackle climate change and improve air quality should be substantially increased.”
As such, discussion points at the Forum included: Whether economic and environmental interests can be successfully reconciled? How are proposals to translate CARS21 findings into concrete policy progressing? And is it possible to integrate policy making and "better regulation" into the culture of the EU institutions?
To fuel this debate, the Forum brought together a distinguished panel of speakers, including Joachim Wuermeling, Secretary of State, German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Enrico Grillo Pasquarelli, Director Inland Transport, DG TREN, European Commission, and Jos Delbeke, Director Climate Change and Air, DG ENV, European Commission.
The keynote speech for the event was given by Commissioner Günter Verheugen. He offered his opinion that the integrated approach to reduce CO2 from cars was the attempt to deliver on environmental ambitions and the commitment to keep jobs and growth in Europe – in other words to meet both Lisbon and Kyoto targets.
He added that the European Commission’s communication in response to CARS21, that was soon to be adopted, represented an attempt to create an integrated approach across all policy areas for the automotive industry. The proposals for regulatory simplification, external competitiveness, research & development and road safety should make a substantial contribution to the industry’s global competitiveness, promote innovation and make European roads safer.
Verheugen also commented that an integrated approach in relation to CO2 emissions and cars was possible by creating the balance between competitiveness (jobs) and environmental protection. He completely rejected the old idea of contradiction between economy and environmental needs.
He finished by urging the policy makers and the Member States to give the necessary incentives to the consumers to make the right choice according to their real needs.
The following day the European Commission released the results of the review of the Community Strategy to reduce CO2 emissions. The document revealed that the Commission will propose, by mid 2008, an EU legislative framework to reduce CO2 emissions from light duty vehicles with a view to reaching the EU objective of 120g CO2/km by 2012.
Click here to download the full European Commission communication on CO2 emissions. |
