CO2 standards for lorries + Weights and dimensions of road vehicles

EESC opinion: CO2 standards for lorries + Weights and dimensions of road vehicles

Key points

  • The EESC welcomes the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 96/53/EC as regards the time limit for the implementation of the special rules regarding maximum length in case of cabs delivering improved aerodynamic performance, energy efficiency and safety performance ("The Decision proposal"-TEN/670) and notes that it only means the earlier implementation of substantive amendments to Directive 96/51/EC, already agreed. The EESC underscores the need to consider the drivers’ working environment when adopting implementing rules and urges the Commission to consult with appropriate stakeholders in this context.
  • The EESC also welcomes the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles (the "Regulation proposal"-TEN/675) as a balanced approach to addressing the need to reduce CO2 emissions from HDVs as a contribution to the implementation of the undertakings made under the Paris Agreement and taking into account the specific provisions made by the October 2014 European Council regarding the transport sector. Still, the EESC regrets the complexity of the proposal which makes it difficult to access. For instance, a common terminology and common criteria are not used for what the Regulation proposal calls zero and low emission vehicles, as different designations are used in other proposals in the mobility package. Common terminology and, where possible, common criteria, would have made the texts clearer. The EESC would also wish to see more precise targets for the CO2 trajectory after 2030.