The CO2 cap on new cars within the European Union that has been proposed by the European Commission looks set to be watered down, with the French government pushing a compromise deal that would delay full implementation to 2015.

Acting as current president of the EU, France is backing a plan already proposed by the European Parliament industry committee to phase in over three years the 120g/km target, which the Commission wanted imposed in full from 2012.

Although this has been opposed by the parliament’s environment committee, the French are backing the idea as away of cutting a deal at the EU Council of Ministers.

Paris officials hope that it could then push a council agreement over the law through the parliament’s plenary, which should debate it in November.

The manoeuvres have upset environmentalists. After seeing copies of the French draft, a Greenpeace spokesman said: “This proposal means business as usual for car manufacturers, with European citizens continuing to bear the burden of high fuel consumption and foreign oil addiction for years to come”.

It claimed France would push through "arbitrary CO2- measuring procedures” that would allow many cars to emit more carbon dioxide than they do today.

However, car makers will be happier. ACEA, the European automobile manufacturers association has said the costs of achieving a 120 g/km limit by 2012 through vehicle technology would be Euro 3,600 on average per vehicle.