Resumen del autor, extraído del trabajo. The European Auto-Oil Programme (AOP-1) provided the scientific and technical basis for deciding on measures to meet 2010 AQ standards to effectively protect human health and the environment. In response to the Kyoto outcome, CO2 emissions from automotive passenger cars will be significantly reduced in accordance with the voluntary agreement between the automotive manufacturers and the European Commission. In addition particulate emissions by number and size are currently much debated with regard to health concerns. Automotive technologies are under rapid development to meet the specific targets. While fuel quality has been specified accordingly for 2000 and with mandatory values for 2005 qualities, further review for 2005 requirements is continuing. It has been shown that effects of fuel quality changes on emissions are small relative to effects from vehicle technology; real benefits arise when fuel changes are used to enable new technology. However, these changes have to be reviewed on a ‘well to wheels’ basis. In view of the many challenges for Europe this paper addresses aspects of fuel quality with regard to emissions performance and CO2. The refining industry needs to come to grips with the newly specified fuels parameters and devise strategies that enable meeting these against the backdrop of a changing fuels market (fuels mix and volume). The challenge will be to find optimum solutions for Europe and to get these accepted in the political process.