Plans to tighten limits on European automotive emissions regulations have moved a step forward, following the announcement of a new legislative aspect to the work done by the European Environment Agency.

As part of wide-ranging efforts to boost its data gathering and analysing capabilities, the EEA is expected to launch a pan-European emissions register in February containing information on sources of industrial pollution.

It follows approval of a five-year strategy that will see the EEA transformed from a statistical bureau to a body that uses its data to guide policy-making.

To facilitate this goal of enhancing its data quality around 50 core indictors will be targeted for improvement.

In a recent report, the EEA attributed the EU's rise in greenhouse gas emissions to air and road traffic.

It is estimated that greenhouse gas emissions from transport-related activity will increase 34 per cent above 1999 levels by 2010.

To help combat these growing levels an international agreement involving the EU, USA, Japan and China will see the creation of a joint research body to investigate ways to reduce vehicle emissions.

The joint memorandum of understanding, signed at the recent EU V conference in Milan, calls for a common scientific platform to help achieve forthcoming emission requirements.