Browse by topic

Filters:

Why air quality is about to land EU countries in court

This Thursday (17 May) the European Commission is expected to refer Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Hungary, and Romania to the European Court of Justice for their failure to tackle repeated breaches of EU air quality limits. It is also expected to take Germany, the UK, and Luxembourg to court for failing to take action against the VW group cars with illegal defeat devices. This media advisory sets out the background to these infringement proceedings and why they matter.

Published on May 16, 2018 - 13:34

T&E's position on a Multilateral Investment Court

The pressure of civil society forced the European Commission to rethink its approach on investor-state-dispute-settlement (ISDS), resulting in the reformed investment court system (ICS), and the current multilateral investment court (MIC). The purported added value of the MIC is to render investment protection more transparent and accountable, and put an end to the controversial ISDS. This briefing outlines T&E's position on MIC.

Published on April 25, 2018 - 17:21

Dirty diesels heading East

With drivers ditching their diesel cars in view of an increasing number of city bans and low-emissions zones in Western Europe, many of these dirty cars now end up in Central & Eastern EU Member States. This means the air quality problems will be exported, not solved, thus deepening the East-West divide that already exists on air quality in Europe. Bulgaria is case in point. This briefing details the impact of dirty diesels heading east to Bulgaria.

Published on April 9, 2018 - 12:15

How EU Member States roll-out electric-mobility: electric charging infrastructure in 2020 and beyond

Sufficient accessible charging infrastructure is a key enabler for the accelerated uptake of electric cars. This briefing analyses the current and planned future roll-out of EV charging infrastructure in European Member States, based governments’ plans (National Policy Frameworks) submitted to the Commission as part of the implementation of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive.

Published on February 27, 2018 - 09:55

Brexit and aviation: What is the best scenario for the environment?

Since the creation of the European Single Aviation Market, the UK and its airlines have greatly benefited for decades from full access to the European market. This access will cease to exist on 29 March 2019 in the absence of an agreement. Given the current state of Brexit negotiations, the possibility of not reaching a future deal on the aviation relationship would greatly harm the industry, consumers and, particularly, the environment.

Published on December 11, 2017 - 10:19

Will final talks produce a robust vehicle approval system?

Almost two years since the type approval reform was proposed, the European Parliament, member states and the European Commission are entering the final negotiations to agree the post-Dieselgate rules for approving cars. The third meeting is scheduled for 23 November and this briefing (in English and Spanish) summarises the key elements of a robust regulation that need to emerge from the discussions.

Published on November 29, 2017 - 10:14

Clean (2nd) Mobility Package

This briefing for MEPs, ahead of a plenary debate on the European Commission’s '2nd Mobility Package', provides details on the proposed car and van CO2 target for 2025 and 2030 and why these lack the necessary ambition to meet the EU’s climate goals, specifically:• There will be a slow down in emissions cuts after 2021;• There is no ZEV mandate or penalty for failing to hit the goal;• There is no effective means to prevent test manipulation such as a real-world test.The briefing also provides information on the strengths and weaknesses of other elements of the package – the Clean Vehicles Directive and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Action Plan – and suggests areas of questioning for the Commission.

Published on November 14, 2017 - 14:40

Advanced fuels target (without crops) vs renewable transport target (with crops) in the RED

One of the key areas of debate in the REDII proposal is whether to introduce a national transport target in addition to one for advanced fuels. This briefing shows that the effect of a national transport target is to continue the support for food-based biofuels through the backdoor, going against their phase-out. This will also water down the greenhouse gas savings provided by the advanced fuels. Depending on the target levels and electricity multipliers, the contribution of food-based biofuels could grow, leading to further agricultural land expansion and direct and indirect land use change (ILUC).

Published on November 14, 2017 - 14:40

Car CO2 regulation: The case and content of an effective proposal

Following the unhelpful intervention of the Juncker Cabinet it would be preferable to delay the proposal and negotiate on key points to produce a stronger outcome. The alternative is to issue a weak proposal that does not put the EU on a track to meet its climate goals and the EU industry on a path to becoming globally competitive and manufacturing new technology vehicles in the EU. 

Published on October 31, 2017 - 14:47

Pages

Narrow down your selection