Parliament wants to strengthen checks on cars

In a vote on 4 April, the European Parliament approved tighter controls on vehicle emissions, but rejected a proposal for an EU Vehicle Surveillance Agency which would have ended the current discredited system in which national regulators have been strongly influenced by their carmaker clients.

Julia Poliscanova, clean vehicles and air quality manager at T&E said: “The parliament’s Dieselgate inquiry has shown that the emissions scandal is largely a consequence of national regulators being unwilling or unable to enforce the rules because of the influence of carmakers. Member states should now accept the MEPs’ proposals to strengthen oversight of their work and ensure legislation is enforced uniformly. The economic interests of carmakers cannot be given priority over public health or the law any more.”

The parliament’s Dieselgate inquiry (EMIS) report highlighted national regulators’ failure to enforce existing defeat device rules and check cars rigorously, allowing cars onto the road thus breaking EU laws. The result of this failure is 29 million excessively polluting diesel cars and vans driving on Europe’s roads today.

Source: T&E press release, 4 April 2017 (www.transportenvironment.org)