In a debate at the European Parliament’s internal market and consumer protection committee (IMCO) on Wednesday 9 November, the rapporteur on the regulation on the approval and surveillance of the vehicle market, Daniel Dalton (ECR, United Kingdom) said he was not trying to find compromise amendments to set up a European surveillance agency.
The announcement came during the presentation of amendments. The British MEP welcomed the relatively low level of amendments (he said there were around 450), but 1,142 were lodged in total (see EUROPE 11658). This is explained by a simple manœuvre – Dalton says that no political solution will emerge on the question of a European agency (see EUROPE 11635) so the idea should be debated by other bodies. He preferred therefore to focus on amendments on other issues.
It is true that only the S&D, Greens and EFDD (through shadow rapporteur Marco Zullo, Italy) are in favour of such an idea. The other groups are not united but the rapporteurs, such as the ALDE’s Dita Charanzová (the Czech Republic) and the GUE/NGL’s Dennis De Jong (the Netherlands), tend to oppose the plan although their groups are reported to favour it. The EPP seems to have a hybrid position, stating that the European Commission should ensure uniform implementation and application of rules on the single market (amendment 523).
What is Dalton considering instead of an agency? In his amendment (578), the MEP suggests that member states implement the recommendations made by a body he feels should be set up, an Information Exchange Forum, but he suggests that if a member state decides not to implement a recommendation, it should inform the Commission of its decision. The Commission would then examine the reasons and if it feels the justifications do not hold water, it can demand that the recommendation be implemented, but only after prior consultations with the member state in question. Charanzová proposes a similar system (amendment 473).
Another subject of discord is the date for the vote on the report. Dalton wanted this to be as soon as possible so it can be adopted on 28 November, but many MEPs feel this is unrealistic given the enormous number of amendments. Moreover, the transport and tourism committee and the environment committee will not issue their opinion until after that date. In the end, 26 January was selected. The Volkswagen investigative committee will not have published its conclusions by then, regret a number of MEPs, such as Pascal Durand (Greens/EFA, France). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)