Independent MEP calls for low tax on environmentally clean cars

Independent MEP Marian Harkin has made a recommendation that owners of environmentally friendly cars should pay lower motor tax.

She said it would be an effective way of encouraging people to choose fuel efficient cars. It follows an announcement by the European Commission on Wednesday which proposed binding rules that would force car manufacturers to produce vehicles that would emit less carbon dioxide.

The plan would set a limit of 130 grams of CO2 per kilometer for cars sold or imported into the EU by 2012.

The planned binding caps have been proposed by the EU after the car industry failed to meet voluntary targets set nine years ago.

They had pledged to reduce average emissions to 140 grams/kilometer by 2008. "With everything you've got to have a push and a pull effect," she said.

"And I think you've got the European commission with it's recent statement pushing car manufacturers and on the other hand you have to have a reason for consumers to buy these cars."