The rapporteur fought the corner for fuel quality. She particularly denounced the use of diesel which posed a threat to health and called for investment to be made in ‘clean’ technologies. Commissioner Papoutsis felt that it was premature to define compulsory standards now which would become applicable in 2005. Recalling that the European Union already had a framework for tax incentives to encourage the use of ‘clean’ cars, he could support the ban in the year 2000 on leaded petrol throughout the Community, provided that some Member States could benefit from an exemption to allow them time to adapt their many vehicles still using leaded petrol. Finally, he indicated the Commission’s acceptance of the following amendments: Nos 11, 13, 14, second part, 17, 23, third and fourth parts, and 24, first part. However, he rejected all the other amendments.