Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP) welcomes the possibility to provide feedback to the Commission’s Inception Impact Assessment on the revision on the CO2 emission standards for cars and vans.
This current Regulation has a strong mechanism to incentivise an uptake of zero and low emission vehicles. We support changes regarding a faster fleet turnover, which we see as a necessity to lower CO2 emissions in particular in Eastern European countries. However, we acknowledge concerns that a rapid change of the car fleet in particular in Eastern European countries will emits additional emissions from manufacturing and recycling or disposal. Therefore, we believe, that setting limits on vehicle emissions should be ensured through the entire life cycle of the vehicles. It will not only protect a consumer but also will aim for evaluating associated emissions at manufacturers and with vehicle dismantling and recycling.
Adequate financing and a specific mechanism are required to incentivise zero- and low-emission vehicles. A system that combines both emission taxes and subsidies for new low emission vehicles should be introduced. The hybrid system may have a significant impact on the development of the market share for the new low-emission vehicles and as well the associated reduction of CO2 emissions. However, so far three countries do not apply CO2-based taxation which are Estonia, Lithuania and Poland.
Read the full response to the European Commission consultation here.