PLANS for a stricter air pollution regime throughout Europe by reducing car exhaust fumes, upgrading fuel quality and completely banning the use of leaded petrol were put before the European Parliament yesterday.
The European Commission has already agreed to measures to control carbon dioxide emissions, reduce leaded petrol use and promote the use of better quality fuels. Its Auto Oil Programme also envisages that states will have to withdraw harmful substances, such as sulphur, from fuels.
However reports on air pollution and fuel standards presented to the parliament by MEPs maintained that the new regulations were not strict enough and claimed that the Commission had identified itself too closely with the oil and motor industries.
A French Green MEP, Mr Noel Mamere, reporting on the quality of petrol and diesel, said that the Commission had "strayed from the environmental path and followed the oil and car industry".
The Commission was also accused of being too timid in its move to have stricter regulations on air pollution from new cars.
In his report, the Dutch liberal MEP, Mr Doeke Eisma, noted that the authorities in Paris had been forced recently to prohibit certain cars from driving in the city because of severe air pollution. "The Commission is taking a big step in the right direction, but some specific points should be made stronger to ensure sufficient air quality in the future", he said.
The Green Party MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, said that the parliament should not be swayed by an intensive lobbying campaign from the oil and motor industry against more stringent rules on vehicle emissions.
The MEPs vote later today on whether to propose tougher rules on fuel than those envisaged by the Commission.
Mr Pat Cox (Ind), reporting on the findings of the parliament's economics committee, said that the Commission was moving in the right direction, but a more realistic perspective needed to be introduced to enable the oil industry in Europe to "turn its ship around". This would be preferable to the course of immediate restriction, as suggested by the environment committee.
