ABSTRACT
In addition to the ‘hard law’ referred to above, the use of voluntary agreements between the Commission and industry is becoming more common. An example of this form of ‘soft law’ is the agreement with the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) to cut average new car CO2 emissions. This agreement is backed by the threat to introduce a legally binding instrument to force CO2 cuts if the agreement fails (see further Chapter 2); see also the agreement between the Commission and industry on detergents in relation to water pollution (see further Chapter 3).
