1) Executive Summary
1. EU Directive 2009/33/ EC (the 'Directive') aims to stimulate the market for clean and energy-efficient vehicles through the public procurement of road transport vehicles.
2. The Directive requires that the lifetime energy and environmental impacts linked to the operation of vehicles are taken into account in purchasing decisions.
3. These lifetime impacts shall include at least energy consumption, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and certain pollutants, with purchasers free to consider further environmental impacts.
4. The requirements of the Directive will apply to contracting authorities, contracting entities and certain public passenger transport services (further defined in section 3), who will all retain considerable flexibility in meeting its requirements.
5. In addition to directly procured vehicles, all vehicles leased under a contract where the EU Procurement Directives apply are also covered.
6. This Directive is mandatory and must be adopted by all European Member States by 4 December 2010.
7. Annex A of this consultation seeks your views on this Directive, including how the relevant authorities and operators will choose to apply the requirements, and what the potential impacts may be.