The Commission this week accepted what environmental campaigners described as a “disgraceful” offer from the automobile industry

Date: 30/07/1998

to cut carbon dioxide emissions from cars to an average of 140 grammes per kilometre by 2008. Green lobbyists say the institution should have held out for a much tougher target and claim the EU will find it difficult to keep pledges made at last December's climate change talks in Kyoto if Union governments follow the Commission's lead and endorse the offer.