MEPs refuse to veto car emissions test update

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have failed to veto a plan to raise NOx emission limits for diesel cars. They rejected the proposal by 323 votes to 317 after […]

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have failed to veto a plan to raise NOx emission limits for diesel cars.

They rejected the proposal by 323 votes to 317 after the European Commission promised a review clause and tabled a long-term legislative proposal to renovate the EU car approval regime.

They however passed a deal which backs on-road emissions tests following the Volkswagen scandal in September last year.

It clears the way for the Commission to go ahead with the second Real Driving Emissions (RDE) tests, which will determine whether a new diesel car model is allowed to be put on the market by monitoring its NOx emissions.

Environment Committee Chair Giovanni La Via (EPP, IT): “We now have clear commitments from the European Commission for a review clause with a precise time frame in order to bring down the maximum emission values to the levels which were agreed upon by co-legislators. A proposal for a long term reform of the EU approval regime for cars is also on the table, as requested by Parliament.

“I therefore welcome the responsible decision from the plenary, which will allow us to go ahead with the RDE procedure in order to bring down NOx emissions from cars which are, at the moment, 400 to 500% above the official limits. We have avoided uncertainties, because industry now has strict but sustainable deadlines to meet. In Europe, we will have better air quality for our citizens without losing jobs.”

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