MEPS DEBATE COUNTEMISSIONS EU
On 11 January, MEPs from the TRAN and ENVI committees jointly debated on the CountEmissions EU proposal. Co-Rapporteurs Barbara Thaler (EPP, Austria) and Pascal Canfin (Renew, France) presented their draft report published in December.
Some MEPs questioned the possibility to extend the methodology chosen by the Commission (ISO 14083) to a full life-cycle analysis, which would take the vehicle production and recycling into account. Others highlighted possible policy options, including making GHG calculation and reporting mandatory, mandating the use of primary data, excluding SMEs from verification duties etc. Overall, MEPs largely agreed on the need to not overburden SMEs with additional requirements, while not creating loopholes in the legislation which would be exploited by larger companies through subcontracting.
MEPs can still table amendments on this proposal until 17 January. Negotiations will then start with the vote of the report in the joint committee format expected in March, and in Plenary in April.
In its policy response published in September, CLECAT welcomed the CountEmissions proposal as a timely initiative enabling transport operators to accurately calculate, monitor and compare their emissions giving transport users an estimate of the carbon footprint for their different transport and delivery options. CLECAT calls on MEPs to ensure the main objectives and measures proposed by the Commission remain in order to maximise the potential benefits of a single EU framework for monitoring and reporting GHG emissions data from transport operations.