Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/54/EC as regards the application of certain provisions to Estonia COM(2007) 411 final — 2007/0141 (COD)
Date: 2007-10-24
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: Estonia, approximation of laws, derogation from EU law, electrical energy, energy distribution, energy production, energy supply, energy transport, single market

16.2.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 44/49

5.10
The EESC also believes that the subject of CO2 emis-
sions from cars and light duty vehicles should be assessed
comprehensively, taking into account the entire life cycle of
vehicles, from production processes to use and disposal. In the
light of the above, the EESC would also stress the need to coor-
dinate and secure coherence between legislative and regulatory
initiatives relating to the motor vehicle industry with an impact
on CO2 emissions so as to preclude contradictions causing
delays in their implementation.

The EESC believes

5.11
future research framework
that
programmes must give priority as a matter of urgency to
projects aimed at finding technically feasible and economically
sustainable ways of reducing global CO2 emissions (not only in
relation to transport), taking into account the real impact of the
entire life cycles of various sources of emissions. The EESC is

convinced that research projects should work across a broad
spectrum with a view to identifying short-, medium- and
long-term solutions with affordability — for both manufacturers
and final customers — as a constant objective, in order to facili-
tate the renewal of the vehicle fleet in the interests of sustain-
able mobility.

Lastly, the EESC believes that the Member States should
5.12
develop activities in a wider range of areas than in the past
(roads, intelligent traffic lights, etc.), not least by buying environ-
mentally-sound vehicles for their own public transport fleets
and committing themselves to both building infrastructure
networks that can give access to the distribution of fuels of a
lower environmental impact, such as natural gas, and facilitating
the purchase of vehicles using natural gas or LPG.

Brussels, 24 October 2007.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a directive of the
European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/54/EC as regards the application
of certain provisions to Estonia’

COM(2007) 411 final — 2007/0141 (COD)

(2008/C 44/12)

On 17 September 2007 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee,
under Articles 47(2), 55 and 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovemen-
tioned proposal.

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part,
it decided, at its 439th plenary session of 24 and 25 October 2007 (meeting of 24 October 2007) by
150 votes to 2 and 8 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.

Brussels, 24 October 2007.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS