EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/50

(2004/C 78 E/0048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1836/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(3 June 2003)

Subject: Particulates

Given the Commission's line, are there any plans to encourage the increased usage of biodiesel or exhaust filters to reduce the pollution, in particular the emission of PM10 and PM2.5 particulates, from diesel engines?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(6 August 2003)

The Commission's Communication on alternative fuels for road transportation and on a set of measures to promote the use of biofuels (1), the proposal for a Parliament and Council Directive on the promotion of the use of biofuels (2) and proposal for a Council Directive on a reduced rate of excise duty on certain mineral oils containing biofuels and on biofuels (3) is being finalised by the institutions and provides for the introduction of biofuels into the Community market.

Regarding diesel particulate filters, many test programmes have shown the benefits of using a diesel particulate filter on heavy-duty vehicles and buses for reducing not only the overall mass emission of particulate but also the very much smaller nano-particulate which are suspected of having a causal effect on human health.

The emission standards due to take effect for new heavy-duty vehicles in 2005 and a further stage of standards in 2008 through Directive 1999/96/EC (4) (the so-called Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards) will require manufacturers to consider using diesel particulate filters to meet the emission standards. The standards set performance targets that can be met by an appropriately durable technology. The diesel particulate filter may not be the best technical solution for long distance trucks but for buses and other vehicles operating in urban areas, the diesel particulate filter has a lot of merit. The Commission is now considering the Euro 6 emission standards and this will focus not only on further reductions in particulate mass (the measurement unit of today) but also on the reduction of emission of nano-particulate. New measurement procedures for nano-particulate are being finalised with this objective in mind.

Article 3 of Directive 1999/96/EC provides the mechanism for Member States to grant fiscal incentives to vehicles that meet future emission standards in advance of the date of their mandatory application. Therefore, Community measures are in place to encourage the use of diesel particulate filters in the Member States.

As far as passenger cars are concerned, in September 2002, the Commission submitted a Communication on the taxation of cars in the Union (5). In the Communication, the Commission proposed, inter alia, to relate vehicle taxation more directly to Carbon dioxide (C02) emissions. It also mentions the possibility of add-on elements to tackle other environmental objectives, e.g. those that concern air pollution such as particulates. The proposal is currently being discussed in the Institutions.

The same issue regarding nano-particulates applies to the next stage of Euro 5 emission limits for passenger cars which the Commission is also now considering.

(1) COM(2001) 547 final.

(2) OJ C 103 E, 30.4.2002.

(3) OJ C 103 E, 30.4.2002.

(4) Directive 1999/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on the approximation of the laws of the member States relating to measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from compression ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous pollutants from positive ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles and amending Council Directive 88/77/EEC, OJ L 44, 16.2.2000.

(5) COM(2002)431 final.