EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/400

(2004/C 84 E/0467)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0441/04

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE)to the Commission

(18 February 2004)

Subject: Particulate filters

Under Directive 1999/96/EC (1) stricter emission limits for new heavy goods vehicles will be introduced in two phases. In the first phase, EURO 4, nitrogen oxide emissions will have to decrease by 30 % and particulate emissions by 80 % of current levels from 2006 onwards.

The second phase, EURO 5, which will apply to all new heavy goods vehicles from October 2009, requires a 60 % reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions. The Commission is also looking at a further phase in reducing emissions, EURO 6, which is being considered for 2012-2013.

In the light of these developments, with emission reductions applying to new vehicles only, can the Commission not introduce a sweeping and compulsory measure to install particulate filters in old, highly polluting vehicles as a transitional solution until 2006?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-0434/04, E-0435/04, E-0436/04, E-0437/04, E-0438/04, E-0439/04, E-0440/04 and E-0441/04

given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2004)

1. Regarding the application of more recent emission standards to older vehicles and retro-fitting measures: — the presently mandatory or future exhaust emission standards laid down in Directive 1999/96/EC (2) are applicable only to new heavy-duty vehicles for the purposes of type-approval to enable the sale of such new vehicles throughout the EU without hinderance; — the application of EURO 4, EURO 5 or EURO 6 emission standards to older vehicles that were previously type-approved according to the then valid EURO 0, EURO 1 or EURO 2 standards is not a simple proposition. One option is retro-fitting, but a EURO 0, EURO 1 or EURO 2 vehicle can not be retro-fitted with exhaust treatment equipment to comply with all the pollutant emission limits of EURO 4, EURO 5 or EURO 6. However, a particulate filter may provide a higher level of particulate reduction, possibly to the EURO 3 level or, in the case of a EURO 2 engine, to the EURO 4 level; — an older EURO 0, EURO 1 or EURO 2 engine may be replaced by a EURO 4, EURO 5 or EURO 6 engine but it depends on the compatibility between the vehicle-chassis and the new engine. However, this is unlikely to be a cost-effective proposition for the operator of a heavy-duty vehicle; — replacement or retro-fit requirements are not presently covered by Community legislation and Member States may enact retro-fitting provisions in national law subsequent to notification procedures. It is preferred that retro-fit measures should not be selective with respect to one particular pollutant only but rather aim to promote, in general, the retro-fitting of broadly efficient emission control devices; — retro-fitting is a measure being considered in the Commission's Clean Air for Europe program which is due to report on a thematic strategy for reducing air pollution in the first half of 2005; — the Honourable Member proposes a sweeping requirement to fit all older heavy-duty vehicles with particulate filters. Since such a measure would be addressed at the level of the Member States, the Commission cannot comment on whether Member States would support such an initiative.

2. Regarding the bringing forward of already agreed emission standards: — compliance with the EURO 4 stage is mandatory for the entry into service of all new heavy-duty vehicles from 1 October 2006. However, new types of heavy-duty vehicles must meet the EURO 4 requirements from 1 October 2005; — the EURO 4 emission limits were agreed in co-decision by the Parliament and the Council. The Commission does not intend to propose a change of the date of application of the EURO 4 stage or reducing further the EURO 4 NOx or particulate emission limits since industry is well on the way to confirming their engine designs and pollutant emission control strategies for the EURO 4 stage. It is too late now to change the goalposts; — the EURO 5 emission limits were also agreed in co-decision by the Parliament and the Council. Again, the Commission does not intend to make a proposal to bring forward by one year the date of application of the EURO 5 standards; — the Commission is presently considering the EURO 6 emission limits for heavy-duty vehicles with the focus being on reducing emissions of NOx and total mass of particulates. The Commission is also considering the issue of ultra-fine particles, which are suspected of being a contributory factor to health effects, with regard to the setting of a specific limit value for ultra-fine particle size/number. The necessary new measuring procedures are in preparation; — the Commission's Clean Air for Europe program will provide the scientific basis for deciding future EURO 6 emission standards in collaboration with balanced measures for other industrial sectors contributing to air pollution in order to achieve future EU air quality targets. Stakeholders are fully consulted in the Clean Air for Europe and EURO 6 process. Today, the Commission estimates that EURO 6 could, if appropriate, be applied in the 2012-2013 timescale giving industry a reasonable period of stability between the EURO 5 and EURO 6 stages.

(1) OJ L 44, 16.2.2000, p. 1.

(2) 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.