Germany has managed to delay tougher European Union car emission rules amid fears they could harm its automotive industry.
The 28-nation bloc's environment ministers agreed amid strong lobbying from Berlin to further tweak the proposed rules.
EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard deplored the delay and stressed the scope to change the rules "is very limited."
She stressed an agreement must be reached "within weeks" to ensure the European Parliament can approve the rules before its term expires in May.
In a compromise deal in June, governments and Parliament agreed to force carmakers to limit the average carbon dioxide emissions of their fleet of new cars to 95 grams per kilometre by 2020, from a 2015 target of 135 grams. Germany wants to delay that for another four years.
