The European Commission
welcomed the agreement reached on May 29 by EU Member States on its legislative
proposal to ensure that car manufacturers comply strictly with all EU safety,
environmental and production requirements.
Proposed by the Commission
in January 2016, the new rules represent a complete overhaul of the so-called
car type approval framework: the system, which allows cars to be placed on the
market.
“Almost two years into the
emissions scandal, we continue to hear of new allegations, revelations and
investigations,” Internal Market and Industry Commissioner
Elżbieta
Bieńkowska said.
“It is high time that we
have a credible, watertight car type approval system in place. We owe it to our
citizens just as we owe it to car manufacturers which did not resort to
cheating,” she added.
The Commission said the EC
proposal for a Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor
vehicles aims to ensure more independent vehicle testing and more checks on
cars already in circulation.
The proposal also foresees
greater EU supervisory powers over national authorities, test centres and
manufacturers, including the possibility for the Commission to impose fines on
manufacturers, the Commission said, adding that it also includes an obligation
on car manufacturers to grant relevant authorities access to their emissions
software protocol.
Following progress in the
European Parliament, the Council agreement paves the way for the start of
so-called trilogue negotiations with a view to a common agreement. The
Regulation will complement other important steps taken by the Commission, such
as the introduction of more robust and realistic testing methods for measuring
both nitrogen oxides (NOx) and CO2 emissions from cars.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/eu-member-states-agree-stricter-car-emissions-safety-rules/