WRITTEN QUESTION P-1031/03

by Danielle Darras (PSE) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Compliance with deadlines for application of the rules on emissions by the heavy-duty vehicle industry

I have received many letters drawing my attention to the problems likely to be faced by the heavy-duty vehicle industry in complying with the application dates for the rules on polluting emissions.

The Euro 4 standard for emissions by commercial vehicles will come into force in 2005.

According to Directive 1999/96/EC the Commission was to submit a proposal by 31 December 2000 on the following three points:

- the rules governing the introduction of an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system to monitor permanently the efficiency of emission control systems;

- provisions on the durability of emission control devices;

- provisions to ensure the conformity of in-service vehicles with rules on pollution.

However, it would appear that two years after the date set the Commission has yet to publish a text. And yet it is absolutely essential for the industry to have such a text, so that it can immediately set in motion the technical measures needed if it is to meet the 2005 deadline.

Can the Commission say whether or not it has published a text and, if not, give the planned date of publication?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(10 April 2003)

The Commission would like to refer the Honourable Member to its reply to Written Question P-0628/03 by Mrs Grossetête(1).

The Commission would like to reiterate that its proposal dealing with the three issues raised in the question is in the final stages of preparation and adoption. It is unfortunate that it has been delayed but that is a consequence of the need to reconstruct the way in which proposals in the field of automotive construction are made to improve the efficiency of the decision making process, to take account of the need to update and simplify the Community acquis(2) and to take account of recent inter-institutional agreements.

As such, the existing annexes laid down in Council Directive 88/77/EEC of 3 December 1987 on the approximation of the law of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles(3) and the amendments necessary to introduce the new technical requirements required by 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(4) are being recast according to the Inter-Institutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 between the Parliament, Council and Commission on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal acts(5).

It is planned that the Commission will adopt the proposal for a Directive within about three months.

(1) See page 222.

(2) COM(2003) 71 final.

(3) OJ L 36, 9.2.1988.

(4) OJ L 44, 16.2.2000.

(5) Inter-institutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal acts OJ C 77, 28.3.2002.