The chair of the committee of inquiry into the Volkswagen scandal (EMIS), Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D, Belgium), wrote to Internal Market and Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska on Monday 21 November asking her to explain why there have been no infringement proceedings over motor vehicle emissions.
In the letter that has been seen by EUROPE, Van Brempt puts three questions to the commissioner. Why have the infringement proceedings which the commissioner announced two months ago before the EMIS committee (see EUROPE 11623) not ultimately been included in the November infringement package? What are the reasons for the delay? What is the timetable going forward?
“Patience is needed”, a source has told us, giving assurances that the Commission is working “very seriously” on this issue but not suggesting any dates. Van Brempt has told EUROPE that she hoped the infringement proceedings would be opened before the end of the year (see EUROPE 11671).
It would appear that many member states have not complied with European legislation, including rules on monitoring type-approval authorities. The Commission also seems to be somewhat mistrustful of national investigations following the revelations of deficiencies in the French inquiry (see EUROPE 11610). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)