Brussels - European Union plans to limit the emission of greenhouse gases from vans and light trucks are facing so much opposition from EU states that they might be postponed indefinitely, diplomats in Brussels said Thursday.

The European Commission, the EU's executive, is currently drafting laws limiting the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2, the gas most linked with global warming) vans are allowed to emit.

The commission's initial target was an average emissions level of 175 grams per kilometre (g/km) in 2012, an improvement of 14 per cent on current emissions, with lower targets in subsequent years. Makers who broke that limit would face fines of 120 euros (179 dollars) per gram of CO2 over the average, multiplied by the number of vans sold.

Diplomats in Brussels had expected the commission to table its proposals before its mandate expires at the end of this month.

But France, Germany and Italy - home to major manufacturers such as Fiat, Mercedes and Renault - have launched a fierce lobbying campaign to weaken the legislation, saying that auto makers cannot afford to bring in new production standards when they are already reeling from the impact of the world financial downturn.

EU van sales fell by 36.5 per cent in the first eight months of this year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. Van sales make up some 10 per cent of EU auto sales.

The three countries have written a joint letter to the commission asking it to delay the legislation and weaken the fines which would have been imposed on van makers who broke the limits. Commission officials confirmed Thursday that they had received the letter.

The Brussels-based body is now considering its response.

But diplomats point out that the current commission's mandate is set to expire at the end of this month. That leaves just two more working sessions to finalize the legal proposal.

Moreover, it is not yet clear when a new commission will take office, because it is unclear if the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which sets new rules for appointing the commission, will come into force.

EU sources say that the current commission is likely to remain in a caretaker role until the end of the year, but that it will not be able to make major legislative proposals in that time.

That could leave the proposal on vans stalled until at least the spring of 2010 as the new commission decides on its stance.

The EU has already brought in laws forcing manufacturers to limit CO2 emissions from cars. Those proposals, too, faced stiff resistance from France, Germany and Italy.

Environmental groups derided the car laws as weak. However, a study released in September showed that the legislation had already forced the most polluting manufacturers to curb their emissions. (dpa)