Associated Press: Automobile manufacturers will have to limit car emissions in Europe by 2012 or face big fines under a European Union plan. The plan, released Wednesday, needs the approval of the 27 EU governments to take effect. It quickly drew fire. Environmentalists said it was too weak. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it would hurt her country’s economy. And automakers, which employ 2.3 million people in the EU, said it might force them to locate elsewhere. EU Environment …