MEPs likely to back EU's climate package
The European Parliament is heading for the key vote on the the set of green laws, known as the climate package, that should see the 27-nation EU boosting renewable energy, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and increasing its energy efficiency.
"Today is one of those very rare occasions when politicians can really write history," EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas told MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday (16 December).
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Speaking ahead of the crucial vote, Mr Dimas urged EU lawmakers not to play out their possible objections during the vote, but in their respective capitals.
"Everybody is a bit dissatisfied ... but the package is equitable, fair and is going to deliver [set] environmental objectives" by the end of the next decade, the commissioner said, adding that "By adopting this package we will confirm our international role in addressing climate change."
During Tuesday's debate, some MEPs criticised a "blizzard" of concessions granted especially to industrial and coal-dependent member states in Central and Eastern Europe.
"New member states will be bought off with a solidarity slush fund, cap and trade emissions permits will be given away when they should have been auctioned, and major players like electricity companies will get derogations that amount to super subsidies," UK Liberal Graham Watson said.
"All of this pushes down the cost of carbon, cuts the cash raised and makes the emissions targets harder to hit," the MEP concluded.
Claude Turmes, the green MEP from Luxembourg, said he was "less happy" about foreseen prospects of renewable energy in the transport sector.
"Our planet has limits - we have limited oil resources as well as agricultural fields," he argued, criticising luxury cars fuelled by "pseudo-biofuels". "We will fight against unreasonable eco-fuel getting to the market," he said.
Finish green Satu Hassi, for her part, objected to an excessive availability to outsource EU emission cuts to other countries. "I hope the governments behave in a responsible way and make sure that the major part of emissions reductions are achieved domestically," she said.
But despite a series of objections, the climate package is likely to enjoy a smooth ride during the vote today (17 December). All three EU institutions - the commission, the parliament and the council representing member states - sealed an informal deal a few days ago (13 December).
"You should vote for the package. It's not one proposal here, one proposal there - one affects the other. If you have objections, do it in your country," commissioner Dimas said in his last appeal to EU lawmakers.
Emissions from new cars
One of the sectors that are attentively watching the outcome of the parliament's vote is the automotive industry, responsible for some 12 percent of overall EU emissions of CO2.
The draft law, a part of the climate package, foresees car makers bringing down emission levels from the current 160 grammes of CO2 per kilometre to 120 grammes per/km.
Roughly two thirds (65 percent) of the new car fleet should meet this ambitious target by 2012, while the entire fleet is expected to comply by 2015. Even a single gram on top will result in a fine.
According to Ivan Hodac from the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), representing 15 major producers including VW, BMW, Renault and Fiat, the foreseen conditions are "very difficult, but something we can live with."
The industry - suffering from low sales in the face of the current economic downturn - is set to ask for additional financial support to meet the green goals. So far, the European Investment Bank pledged to provide it with cheaper loans of €16 billion between 2009-2012.
"We will certainly ask for additional funding. On top of this, we need to do something to motivate the people to return to buying cars," Mr Hodac told EUobserver.
EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs, for his part, said that all proposals included in the climate package "make a revolutionary change in the way we produce and consume energy." Cleaner cars will also "limit our growing dependency on oil," he argued.