An unrealistic and irresponsible plan to cut vehicle emissions adopted by the European Parliament today would endanger jobs and Europe’s car industry, warned ECR Group MEPs.

An unrealistic and irresponsible plan to cut vehicle emissions adopted by the European Parliament today would endanger jobs and Europe’s car industry, warned ECR Group MEPs.

The amendments adopted aim to cut 40% of CO2 emission from vehicles by 2030, with car manufacturers that do not produce enough zero and low emission vehicles punished with penalties and fines. The ECR Group environment spokesman Boleslaw Piecha believes that in opting to go way beyond the European Commission’s proposed 30% target the Parliament’s position would put car industry jobs and the competitiveness of the sector at risk. An exemption that protects medium-sized manufacturers, who produce fewer than 300,000 vehicles, from the full scope of the penalties was maintained thanks to pressure from the ECR Group.

Speaking after the vote, Piecha said:

“We were prepared to support an ambitious target to cut vehicle emissions, but not at the expense of jobs and the long term competitiveness of the car industry. Ramping up the Commission’s fully assessed 30% target to a higher 40% target that has not been robustly checked is irresponsible and unrealistic.

“Everyone wants to see more zero and lower emission vehicles on the streets but we have a duty to protect industry and jobs which means that unachievable targets combined with punitive fines and penalties is not a workable way forward.”