Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, at the UN Climate Convention in Kyoto, the European Union accepted a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 8% by the year 2012, relative to emission levels in 1990. If we now know that cars are accountable for 12% of these CO2 emissions, if we know that people who buy cars are completely unaware of the fact that the car is a polluting tool and to what extent it does pollute, although, for example, they do know what the maximum permitted level of alcohol in the blood is or I know that if I buy a car which uses three litres per 100 km then this is quite an economical car, then it is a matter of urgency to make the consumer aware of car pollution. Only then can we ensure that the European Union will yield results when reducing CO2 emissions. We have to impress on people that, at the moment, we emit an average of 186 grammes of CO2 per kilometre by car and this must be cut down to 120 grammes per kilometre. So one way or another, we have to drum these grammes per kilometre into people. How will we do this? The directive proposes we provide information in four different ways. Firstly, it is suggested to introduce labels for new cars which specify information such as fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Secondly, we can compile a guide containing this information on all new models, which also includes a top ten of the most economical and environmentally-friendly cars. A third suggestion is to display posters in showrooms with a list of data for all models on display and lastly, the fuel consumption and CO2 emission data should be included in advertisements for new cars. At the Commission’s proposal, the European Parliament submitted a number of amendments during the first reading. We have noted that the Council has incorporated a large number of these in its common position. Parliament had requested not to mention fuel costs. The Council went along with this. Parliament had also requested to make a fuel consumption guide available on the Internet and at European level. Again, the Council agreed. Mentioning CO2 emissions explicitly, as was suggested by Parliament, has also been complied with. There are two other points which the Council seems to have accepted to some extent, and one is that there should also be a “top ten” per category of cars. Although the Commission has stated that this is a complex issue, the Council still requests that the Committee concerned with the revision of this directive should look into this and get on with this categorisation exercise. A second point relating to the revision is that Parliament had requested that the directive should also apply to second-hand cars, managers’ cars and cars registered for the day. Upon revision, it is possible to include second-hand cars, according to the Council. Again, Parliament’s request has been met to some extent. Since the Council’s stance is so close to that of Parliament, I would recommend swift action, not tabling any amendments and approving the common position now so that, by the end of next year, the directive can enter into effect. I think this is rather more important than trying to achieve perfection in every last detail which would not make any significant difference. The Committee on the Environment has supported this proposal unanimously. This does not mean that we think this regulation is now perfect. A number of observations made by Parliament are important, however. From the very outset, it was clear, for example, that complete harmonisation was impossible. As such, the Member States can elaborate on the provisions set out here. We would ask the Committee to ensure that the internal market is not disrupted. That on the basis of best practices in one or more of the Member States, the provisions in this directive are applied in a manner which is as uniform as possible and that red-tape is avoided for manufacturers or sales outlets. I would like to put forward another three points. Parliament had also requested if it could be borne in mind that air-conditioning or other additional equipment can increase pollution levels, that the legal responsibility of manufacturers and dealers should be delineated more accurately and that, as such, managers’ cars and cars registered for the day should be included. The directive is a mere starting point. We now have to gather experience. We need to find out whether the environment is really an argument for the consumer when they are buying a car, i.e. whether they decide in favour of an environmentally-friendly rather than a less environmentally-friendly car. When the directive is evaluated, we will need to decide whether adjustments need to be made. The intention should at any rate be to reduce CO2 emissions as efficiently as possible and to act swiftly. This is why I would like to ask Parliament to adopt this directive.

Political group: ELDR