Earlier this year the European Parliament, the Commission and EU governments struck a deal confirming the 95g/km target

However Germany is said to want its luxury carmakers to be allowed to keep selling higher-emission cars for another decade and, according to T&E, has exerted massive pressure on other European countries particularly those with significant German-owned car-manufacturing facilities to support its position. As a result Germany has been granted a third consecutive delay by the Lithuanian presidency of the EU.

Commenting on the decision, Greg Archer, clean vehicles manager of Transport & Environment, said: ‘It’s totally inexcusable and undemocratic that Germany has been able to delay the vote as many times as needed to garner enough support to block the deal. The Council must make a decision and soon. Either it ratifies the deal that has been welcomed by drivers, auto suppliers and the vast majority of EU countries, or it scuppers the plan and reopens negotiations with the Parliament. If a new deal has to be struck, the Parliament should insist on its 2025 target of 68g of carbon dioxide per kilometre.’

‘In a month’s time the EU will go to the UN climate negotiations and will undoubtedly call upon their global partners again to show ambition and tackle climate change. The rest of the world is watching Europe and what it is doing on car CO2 emissions. Reducing the ambition of the car CO2 standards to American levels would deal a fatal blow to the credibility of the EU,’ Greg Archer added. 

EU environment ministers will now discuss the legislation and the delayed deal at a meeting on 14th October.