Whereas Article 174 of the Treaty requires prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; whereas the rational use of energy is one of the principal means by which this objective can be achieved and environmental pollution reduced;

Whereas the ultimate objective of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is to achieve stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system;

Whereas under the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed at the December 1997 Kyoto Conference, the Community has accepted the target of reducing its emissions during the period 2008 to 2012 in respect of a basket of greenhouse gases by 8 % relative to 1990 levels;

Whereas in recognition of the importance of passenger cars as a source of CO₂ emissions, the Commission has proposed a Community strategy to reduce CO₂ emissions from passenger cars and to improve fuel economy; whereas in its Conclusions of 25 June 1996 the Council welcomed the Commission's approach;

Whereas information plays a key role in the operation of market forces; whereas the provision of accurate, relevant and comparable information on the specific fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions of passenger cars may influence consumer choice in favour of those cars which use less fuel and thereby emit less CO₂, thereby encouraging manufacturers to take steps to reduce the fuel consumption of the cars that they manufacture;

Whereas it is therefore necessary to develop a fuel economy label for all new passenger cars displayed at the point of sale;

Whereas it is necessary that supplementary standardised information on the fuel consumption and specific CO₂ emissions of all versions on the new car market is available in a suitable form both at the point of sale and from a designated body in each Member State; whereas such information may be useful to consumers who formulate their purchase decision before entering the showroom or who choose not to use the services of a dealer or visit a showroom when purchasing a passenger car;

Whereas it is important that potential customers are made aware, at the point of sale, of the most fuel efficient passenger car models available through that point of sale;

Whereas all promotional literature, and, as appropriate, all other promotional material, used in the marketing of new passenger cars, should contain data on the relevant fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions for the passenger car models to which it pertains,