WRITTEN QUESTION E-0607/97 by María Estevan Bolea (PPE) to the Commission (27 February 1997)

Subject: Auto/Oil Programme

Studies show that the cost of the Auto/Oil Programme over 15 years amounts to ECU 77 500 million. The programme is costly, and the measures are relatively ineffective.

Has any study been made of the effects which the following measures and future scenarios woud have on improving air quality:

- teleworking,

- traffic planning in urban communities,

- increasing the number of pedestrianized areas and increasing public transport,

- using hybrid vehicles powered by both electricity and fuel, which run on electricity in towns and petrol on roads and highways,

- increasing the number of underground train networks,

- expanding suburban train services,

- reducing speed limits on highways and motorways to 120 km/hour,

- replacing vehicles over 10 years old,

- imposing strict maintenance requirements for motor vehicles, in particular proper regulation of the fuel injection system for diesel engines,

- effective roadworthiness tests for vehicles?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (17 April 1997)

A new approach was outlined in the legislative proposals which the Commission submitted to the Council and the Parliament in 1992. It is reflected in Article 4 of Directive 94/12/EC ((OJ L 100, 19.4.1994. )) relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and amending Directive 70/220/EEC which was adopted by the Council and the Parliament in 1994 under the co-decision procedure. The new approach aims to ensure that measures are designed to produce effects to meet the requirements of the Community's air quality criteria and related objectives, that an assessment of the cost effectiveness of each measure is undertaken, and that the measures shall be proportional and reasonable in the light of the intended objectives.

The proposals resulting from the Auto-oil programme take account of the methodology outlined above and seek a substantial reduction of pollutant emissions as regards vehicles, and in particular will cover further improvements based on the assessment of:

- the potential of traditional engine and post-combustion technology;

- possible improvements in the test procedure, e.g. cold-start, starting in low or wintry temperatures, durability, evaporate emissions;

- measures at the level of type-approval supporting strengthened inspection and maintenance requirements, including on-board diagnostic systems (OBD);

- the possibility of checking the conformity of vehicles in circulation; and

- specific limits for hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides and measures to cover pollutants not yet regulated, e.g. particulate materials, ozone precursors,

In addition the proposals will cover complementary technical measures, including improvements in fuel quality as far as vehicle emissions of dangerous substances, in particular benzene, are concerned, and strengthening of the requirements of the inspection and maintenance programme.

The Commission's communication ((COM(96) 248. )) of 18 June 1996 included two proposals for directives concerning car emissions and fuel quality. Three other proposals on light commercial vehicles, heavy duty vehicles and inspection and maintenance are following as a global result of the Auto-oil programme. When combining the legislative proposals arising from the Auto oil programme with those measures which have already been agreed, the Commission's proposals will result in reductions of the order of 60-70% (between 1990 and 2010) on the main pollutants from road transport. The programme took account of the potential contribution of non-technical

measures, in particular traffic management, road pricing, greater investment in public transport and scrappage schemes and the conversion of captive vehicle fleets to alternative fuels. It stresses the importance of introducing supplementary local measures in order to achieve the air quality targets in certain localities or regions.