The report adopted on 13 December 2006 by Parliament concerning the implementation of the Euro 5 regulation specifies the following nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission limits for automobiles and vans: 180 mg/km from 2009 and subsequently 80 mg/km from 2014, while in the United States the limit value is 44 mg/km to be implemented progressively from 2004 to 2007. The European automobile industry has recently succeeded in producing automobiles to US specifications.

When considering technical texts and specifications, should we not take account of what is being done by our competitors at international level and measure improvement in terms of not only our own performance to date but also what is being achieved at international level, particularly regarding innovation and environmental sustainability?

Regarding automobile specifications, does the Council not agree that we should take more decisive measures and follow the example of our competitors in adopting more stringent pollutant emission limits?