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MEPs won't blink

• Mark Mardell
• 25 Nov 08, 10:00 AM

Late last night a small group of MEPs led by the British Conservative threw out a scheme to water down planned new laws to fine car companies for not meeting new green targets.

As I reported yesterday some were unhappy that it looked like they were being offered a precooked deal by their main negotiator. The French, who are currently in the chair of the European Union council, are desperate to do a quick deal and were dismayed by the MEPs tough stance.

The French deputy ambassador is trying to wrap up deals not only on this but the whole complex and awkward climate change package. He's tired and running out of diary time.

So no deal before next week at the earliest, although many MEPs will feel what they end up with is much weaker than they would like. Whatever the eventual details it's likely that at the end of the day ministers from car producing nations will breathe a sigh of relief and present the details as a triumph for the environment and the car industry.

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