German automakers denounce EU compromise on CO2 emissions

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FRANKFURT (AFP) — The German automobile federation VDA slammed on Tuesday an EU compromise on rules to cut CO2 emissions from new cars, saying it ignored the sector’s current crisis.

“Globally, the project does not take enough account of the automobile industry’s difficult situation,” a VDA statement said.

“Those who are following the evolution of global markets cannot act as though nothing has happened,” federation president Matthias Wissmann said.

On Monday, European Union members agreed that automakers will have to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars to 130 grams per kilometre (0.6 miles) over the period 2012-2015.

The compromise, reached after long and difficult talks, was swiftly criticised by environmental protection groups as too diluted to be effective.

The deal establishes a sliding scale until 2015 and different targets for various automakers, a key position of German companies, which produce generally bigger cars that consume more fuel.

But VDA said that the compromise between “ecology and economy” was reached in only a few cases.

“Excessive sanctions are particularly unsatisfactory,” Wissmann said. “Flagrantly unequal treatment of the automobile industry is unjustifiable.”

If a car maker exceeds an established limit, it is subject to variable fines.

German ecological groups, like their counterparts elsewhere in Europe, say meanwhile that the compromise is too favourable to the auto industry.

“It’s a sad day for European climate protection,” said Gerd Lottsiepen, spokesman for the VCD association, an environmental group that specialises in transport issues.

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