In a spectacular u-turn, the European Union assembly yesterday voted to establish a later deadline of 2015 for emissions curbs and to impose less stringent cuts.

From 2015, MEPs voted that average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the EU should not exceed 125g/km, which is three years later than the proposed deadline set by the European Commission and 5 g/km less.

The parliament voted by 367 to 269 for the new proposals, which are expected to strongly influence the EC's draft legislation later this year. The result represents a victory for centre right MEPs who have long supported an extended deadline but has shocked environmentalists and left-leaning politicians who expected the 120g/km target for 2012, first mentioned by the EU in the 1990's, to pass into law. The European Federation for Transport and Environment, a non-governmental organisation that backed the stricter limits, accused MEPs of “losing their nerve”.

Aat Peterse of the T&E said there was an “increasing disparity” between what MEPs said needed to be done about climate change and what they were actually prepared to do. “Making cars more fuel efficient is one of the most important steps Europe can take to cut emissions, yet MEPs seem to have lost their nerve,“ said Peterse. “As the report is non-binding, it's now up to the European Commission to ensure carmakers stick to the 13-year-old 120 target when they announce a legal proposal later this year."

Despite the deadline extension, Acea, the European carmaker's trade association, voiced reservations about the proposals. It criticised the European Parliament for failing to call for a “comprehensive, cost-effective approach towards reducing CO2 emissions from cars” and for “clinging to car technology targets that are too stringent.” “The manufacturers support the EU objective of 120 g/km and will play their part,” said Ivan Hodac, Acea secretary general. “Within an integrated approach, the large majority of carbon reductions will still come from car technology. The EU should now agree on realistic carbon reduction targets for the car industry.”

There was a significant blow for carmakers, however, as the European Parliament voted in favour of imposing financial penalties on manufacturers for failing to meet emissions targets. Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat MEP who was responsible for steering the emissions proposals through parliament, said he was waiting on financial penalties from the Commission but did not want them to be phased in. “We have to have financial penalties or else the regulations will not be worth the paper they're written on,” he added. MEPs also backed calls for 20 per cent of the space used to advertise new cars to be devoted to providing consumers with information about the vehicles' fuel economy and carbon emissions. The decision is a major blow for both carmakers and the advertising industry -each vehemently opposed the introduction of tobacco-style warning messages.