歐盟執委31日提議一套運輸燃料新標準，藉由提高生質燃料使用率，來改善氣候變遷與空氣污染情形。執委會表示，這套新標準的燃料不但較為潔淨，同時為低污染的載具與機具介紹給民眾使用。為了鼓勵發展低碳燃料與生質燃料，供應商將必須減少生產與運輸過程中溫室氣體的排放量，並且在2011年至2020年之間， 削減10%的燃料使用量。柴油引擎內的硫等有毒物質減少，公眾也將獲得更健康的生活環境。
然而，德國汽車工業協會（VDA）在1月22日曾強調，運輸部門的遏制氣候變遷政策，必須事先考慮到成本效益，以及競爭性的模糊地帶。該協會指出，歐盟執委會確實有必要制訂降低二氧化碳排放新規定，如此德國汽車才不會受到差別待遇；不過，對於製造商的優惠與補貼不能單以小型車的標準來定奪。執委會則表示，新標準中所有不同項目的成本已經審慎評估，而內容上的變動亦全面經過成本效益分析。
The European Commission today proposed new standards for transport fuels that will reduce their contribution to climate change and air pollution through greater use of biofuels. The proposed standards will not only make the fuels themselves cleaner but will also allow the introduction of vehicles and machinery that pollute less, said the Commission. To encourage the development of lower-carbon fuels and biofuels, suppliers will have to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the production, transport and use of their fuels by 10 percent between 2011 and 2020.Better public health is expected through a reduction in noxious pollutants, in particular due to lower sulfur content of diesel.
But the German Association of the Automotive Industry, VDA, said January 22, that climate policy in the traffic sector must be cost-efficient and competition neutral. "The new regulations on CO2 reduction must be drawn up so that they do not discriminate, said the VDA, adding, "Premium manufacturers cannot be measured with the same yardstick used for small cars." The costs of the different elements of the new regulations have been assessed, says the Commission, and, overall, the changes proposed are justified on a cost-benefit analysis.
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