Fiona has condemned the outcome of the EU car emission negotiations, which she says have resulted in watered down targets, a long phase-in period and plenty of loopholes for individual companies.
Commenting on the deal, Fiona said:
"This deal seems to have been dictated by the very industry it was supposed to be regulating.
"It is a serious set back given that the EU is supposed to be leading on tackling climate change. Instead of a reduction in car emission, this deal could translate into an actual increase in emissions until 2012.
"Tough carbon curbs would have been an incentive for carmakers to stop producing gas-guzzlers and cut driving costs for consumers. Consumers themselves are increasingly demanding economical and environmentally friendly cars.
"The EU is unlikely now to meet the target of a 40% cut in car emissions by 2020. Unfortunately, North East companies specialising in innovation such as fuel cell and electrical cars would have benefited from stricter targets and penalties."
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