Germany's Merkel says she will fight against general auto emission reduction

[Dover]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that she would try to block any European Commission attempt to impose a general emission reduction on the auto sector and will oppose including the car industry in the CO2 trading program.

The European Commission plans to introduce mandatory CO2-emission limits for cars, a move fiercely criticized by Germany's auto industry.

"The German government will advocate for a sectoral reduction with all its power and energy," Merkel said at a conference on Europe organized by German business groups. "And I think I can go so far as to say that we will prevent a general reduction. At any rate, I will do what ever I can to prevent this."

Germany is home to several auto manufacturers, including Europe's biggest car maker Volkswagen AG, BMW, the German-American company DaimlerChrysler AG and luxury auto maker Porsche AG...>

http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/30-01-2007/86892-merkel-0

[gulfcoastliberal]

1. No wonder* felt like he had a right to rub her shoulders!

Birds of a feather, really.

[Captain Hilts]

2. God forbid they slow down on the autobahn. nt

[no_hypocrisy]

3. That's the "real" reason why Merkel is fighting the emissions reduction.

I heard an interview on NPR and several German motorists expressed a belief that it is their God-given right to travel 100 mph on their Autobahn. I swear without the German accents, you'd believe these were the opinions of an average American with the refusal to compromise.

[JVS]

8. I once suggested that having a speed limit on th AB would lead to more...

predictable traffic patterns and less of the infamous "stau" The entire table stared icily at me

[YankeyMCC]

4. Disappointing

I remember reading that she was going to make some strong commitments to addressing the climate crisis during her EU presidency and she seemed to me to be an educated and thoughtful leader.

But again even the political leaders such as Merkel let us (us being Humanity) down showing where the true priorities lay.

And again I say we have to Stop looking to the so called political leadership for leadership on the climate, the people need to start acting and behaving in ways to address the crisis and thus create real change and real political will.

We must lead the so called leaders much like the early labor movement.

[donsu]

5. Merkel is a neo con - Germans should be ashamed to have elected her

nt

[tabasco]

6. Quite true. Only by the narrowest margin.

I think she will be gone soon.

[sakabatou]

7. Merkel makes Mother Earth cry

[fujiyama]

9. Their cars are starting to suck too

The quality of German cars has fallen and I'd buy a Lexus any day over either a Mercedes or BMW (haha, if I had that kind of money of course). Let's not say anything of Chrysler, which was more or less bought by Daimler and their cars are just terrible. I guess VWs are OK, but I've never really cared for them either.

I'll admit, I still like Porsches though.

[BlueIris]

10. Poor Chancellor Merkel. The Bush 'rub' must have traumatized her.

She's become delusional.