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Government approves measures to solve infringement on petrol emissions
The Government on Wednesday, September 26, approved the technical requirements for the limitation of emissions of petrol vapor arising during refueling of vehicles and from the storage, loading, unloading and distribution of petrol at terminals, as a necessary measure toward solving an infringement announced by the European Commission (EC), shows a release of the Environment and Forestry Ministry (MMP).
The Romanian Government approved on September 26 the draft Government Resolution amending and completing Government Resolution no. 568/2001, on the set up of the technical requirements for the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds resulted from the storage, loading, unloading and distribution of petrol at terminals and at filling stations - republished.
This Government Resolution was initiated as a result of the changes in the EU legislation, namely through the adoption of Directive 2009/126/CE of the European Parliament and Council, published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) Series L, no. 285 of 31.10.2009, as well as of the necessity to update some of its provisions.
'The infringement [announced by the European Commission] aims at a measure the previous government failed to put into practice, which did not comply with the deadline of January 1, 2012, for the transposition of a European directive into the national legislation. As stated in the press, the procedure was initiated as early as March 2012, and by approving this Government Resolution, the current Government is trying to fix what was not previously resolved. After the publication in the Official Gazette, this Government Resolution will be notified to the European Commission,' reads the MMP release.
The European Commission announced on Thursday that it sent Romania a reasoned opinion, the second stage of the infringement procedure triggered in March this year, because Romania failed to apply the EU legislation concerning the reduction of emissions of petrol vapor during car refueling at the refueling pumps.
The legislation is designed to reduce the emissions of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere during refueling of the cars in filling stations, in the conditions in which these compounds contribute to causing respiratory diseases and harm the environment. The legislation in question had to already be in effect from January 1, 2012, informs a EC release.
The EC Government initiated an action for the ascertainment of the failure to fulfill the liabilities in this case in March this year and now it sends a reasoned opinion, the second stage of the EU action in finding the failure to observe the obligations. Romania has two months at its disposal to send an answer.