Car noise

MEPs take timid step to muffle vehicle noise in spite of industry lobbying

The European Parliament's environment committee today voted on proposals to revise EU rules on noise from vehicles. While the Greens were in favour of even tougher rules, the outcome of vote would strengthen current regulations, albeit with certain loopholes. After the vote, Green environment spokes...

EU transport infrastructure

MEPs vote to prolong patchwork approach to EU transport networks

Proposals on EU funds for cross border transport infrastructure projects from 2014-20 (Connecting Europe Facility), as well as defining the criteria for the selection of these projects, were today voted on by MEPs on the transport and energy committees (1). The Greens expressed regret at the outcome...

Brussels agenda

Weekly preview of the Greens/EFA group - 17-21 December 2012

Greens/EFA priorities for the week include controversial EU fingerprint database proposals, Fisheries policy reform takes step forward, Noise from cars/vehicles and EU rules, EU cross-border energy infrastructure, EU cross-border transport infrastructure, Tackling youth unemployment, EU tobacco rules and public health

A fair deal for cars

06.12.2012

Conference and presentation of a study

Car use is an important part of daily life in the EU and it clearly creates huge benefits for the users. Naturally there are also costs for car mobility: obvious costs but also less obvious ones, such as costs arising from noise and pollution. We have therefore commissioned a study estimating the magnitude of these hidden costs of car mobility and the ways in which these costs are currently being financed. At the event we will present the study and hope to discuss the best ways forward to get a FAIR DEAL for all of us who use and pay for car mobility

The true costs of automobility

Study about the external costs of car use in EU-27

Car use creates benefits for the users. Naturally there are also costs for car mobility: obvious costs but also less obvious ones, such as costs arising from noise and pollution. The study commissioned by the Greens/EFA estimates the magnitude of these hidden costs of car mobility and the ways in which these costs are currently being financed.

Road safety

EU-wide 30 km/h speed limit for urban areas - citizens' initiative launched

Another important milestone in the push for an EU-wide urban speed limit of 30 km/h has been reached, with the European Commission having accepted a proposed EU citizens' initiative on the subject. The Greens/EFA group has long pushed for an EU-wide urban speed limit of 30 km/h to be introduced, a d...

Car industry 2020

Commission plan falls short of renewal strategy for Europe's car industry

The EU Commission today presented its CARS2020 action plan on the future of the European car industry to 2020 (1), setting out policy measures. Commenting in the communication, Greens/EFA vice-president and industrial policy spokesperson Reinhard Bütikofer said: "The coming years will be defin...

Car emissions/fuel efficiency

Commission misses chance to shore up faltering EU car emissions rules after industry lobbying

The European Commission today presented proposals for implementing EU rules on CO2 emissions limits for vehicles for the year 2020 (1). It is welcome that the Commission has given a legislative basis for the car CO2 limits for 2020 but the Greens expressed regret that the proposals fell victim to in...

Oversize trucks

Commission u-turn on EU gigaliner ban to be challenged by EP

The EP is set to challenge a controversial decision by EU transport Commissioner Siim Kallas to push forward with proposals to reverse current EU policy on heavier and longer trucks (Directive 96/53/EC) without involving the European Parliament and Council as co-legislators. The Commissioner wants t...

Mega-trucks

Commissioner Kallas bows to EP pressure and suspends planned reversal of gigaliner policy

EU transport commissioner Siim Kallas today announced he would suspend a planned reversal of EU policy on heavier and longer trucks, so-called gigaliners, with a view to legalising their cross-border use. Speaking in the European Parliament transport committee, the commissioner stated he would recon...

Mega trucks

Commission's planned u-turn on gigaliners incompatible with EU law

EU transport commissioner Siim Kallas is set to announce a reversal of EU policy on heavier and longer trucks, so-called gigaliners, with a view to legalising their cross-border use. The commissioner is set to propose a completely new interpretation of the existing EU legislation (Directive 96/53/EC...

Greens/EFA Round-up

Debriefing of the plenary session Strasbourg 12-15 December 2011

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week in Strasbourg included the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, ITER nuclear fusion and EU funds, single EU work permit, criminal proceedings and the right to information, the Euro crisis, banning environment-damaging phosphates and many others