Brussels, 12/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The way is clear for the European Commission to adopt its regulation establishing conformity factors and the timetable for applying them, when real driving emissions (RDE) tests for private cars and light utility vehicles are introduced (2nd RDE package).
On Friday 12 February, the Council of the EU gave the green light to the highly controversial agreement reached by the technical committee on motor vehicles on 28 October, lowering the requirements of current European rules (Regulation 715/2007, adopted by co-decision) on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel engines (EURO VI standard). This came as no surprise as the Council had already approved the agreement.
By not making use of its right of objection within the framework of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny, the Council has cleared the way for the European Commission to adopt the regulation - something it will do as quickly as possible. The reason is simple: following the Volkswagen scandal, it is in the interests of all - Commission, Council and Parliament - that more reliable emissions tests than those carried out in laboratories are introduced in the EU.
The European Parliament had already given the text its go-ahead when, on 3 February, it decided by a narrow majority not to veto this 2nd RDE package, much to the regret of those championing public health, the environment and the legislation adopted ten years ago by co-decision (see EUROPE 11482). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)