EU may go easier on CO2 curbs for big cars: paper

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Commission may shift the burden of cutting average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions more onto small cars than heavier and more powerful models, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported.

The paper, which quoted an internal EU paper, said on Saturday the Commission was requiring manufacturers of the smaller models to cut CO2 emissions at a higher rate in order for the bloc to achieve its average target by 2012.

The plan, if implemented, could benefit German car makers like BMW, Mercedes and Porsche known for their power and high speed.

The European Union executive is due to adopt regulations on December 19 on how to enforce an average limit of 120 grams per km on carbon dioxide emissions by 2012 -- part of the bloc's ambitious strategy to combat climate change.

The EU industry and environment commissioners have disagreed over fining carmakers who fail to meet EU pollution limits.

The leaders of the main west European countries with big auto companies -- Germany, France and Italy -- have each written to the Commission's head calling for leniency in sharing out the burden of CO2 emissions curbs on their manufacturers.

Data published by an environmental pressure group last month showed average emissions of CO2, the greenhouse gas most blamed for global warming, from new cars made by German firms actually rose by 0.6 percent in 2006.

French and Italian producers cut pollution from their vehicles by 1.6 percent, but Germany produces heavier cars.

The Commission decided in January that carmakers would be required to achieve 130 g/km through engine technology, while use of biofuels and other measures to improve vehicle energy efficiency would help achieve the overall 120 g/km goal.

(Reporting by Mantik Kusjanto, editing by Anthony Barker)