Ms Laura Behan:

I will answer the first question on the optimistic nature of the targets. It is true. The Commission has set out targets in a directive on the basis of its impact assessment. It conducted an analysis of our plans for electric vehicles, EVs, and examined the levels of urbanisation and vehicle ownership. Some people consider the targets to be fairly steep, particularly in terms of the EV refuelling infrastructure. The target for compressed natural gas is less onerous at one per 150 km. Only time will tell whether the targets are overly optimistic in terms of take-up. There are seven years between now and 2020 and there may be a high take-up of electric vehicles in the intervening seven years.

Most member states have identified that setting targets now for unknown fleet numbers in 2020 is something that we may need to bear in mind when negotiating the directive. For example, a review clause may need to be inserted for three years down the line to determine whether the targets are feasible in light of developments in the intervening period. The nature of the targets will be a matter for negotiation. Listening to the transport Ministers around the table, we are not alone in believing that we may need to reconsider the targets to make them non-binding if infrastructure is not being developed quickly enough to meet the level of vehicles in the market or to insert a review mechanism to determine whether the targets are still appropriate a few years down the line.