Final report of the LLG on Clean Cars released

Publication date: 14 July 2005

Today, the Low Level Group (LLG) on Clean Cars for Europe presented its report and recommendation to EU Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen. The LLG was formed in March 2005 by Dorette Corbey MEP and is a response to the Commission's High Level Group on CARS21.

llg_clean_cars_final_report.pdf (72 KB)

In four informal meetings, Members of the LLG discussed ideas on how to ensure that the European automotive industry will remain a strong global competitor, a source of high quality employment, and a producer of environmentally sustainable vehicles. The LLG initiative must be seen in the light of the Lisbon Strategy and its relaunch at the 2005 Spring Council. The Lisbon strategy has three dimensions - economic, social and environmental. Instead of considering environmental requirements and competitiveness as mutually exclusive, the LLG is convinced that they can and should strengthen one another.

The LLG names four principles for regulations in order to achieve a sustainable, clean car industry:
- Performance not technology: Regulations should be technology neutral in setting the required performance objective.
- Long-term perspective: Regulators should give manufacturers sufficient lead-time to adapt their research, development, and production process.
- Regulation that provides incentives and rewards for green innovations: Regulation must boost competition on the basis of environmental qualities.
- Clear public responsibility: public authorities should take a leading role in stimulating new clean technologies.

The LLG calls also for action on the following points:
1. Tighter pollutant emission limits
2. Increased fuel efficiency
3. Cleaner fuels
4. New technology: Strengthening research and development
5. Employment
6. Public procurement
7. Co-ordinated fiscal strategies
8. Recycling
9. Awareness raising, educating and assisting the driver
10. Making green mobility choices possible