Conservatives and liberals combine to water down vehicle pollution standards

The European Parliament’s environment committee voted on Thursday (12 October) to water down proposed pollution standards for vehicles, as conservative and liberal lawmakers joined forces to block green and socialist ambitions.

The so-called Euro 7 standards do not mitigate vehicles’ impact on the climate (which was primarily addressed under the CO2 standards for cars file), rather they look to rein in air pollution that is harmful to human health, such as particulates, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide.

In November 2022, the European Commission proposed to tighten pollution limits for vehicles, predicted to be the last such measure for petrol and diesel cars before the switch to zero-emission vehicles.

Both the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) group and the ultraconservative ECR group had pushed against the Commission proposal, arguing that forcing industry to make sweeping changes to the combustion engine would push up costs for manufacturers, making vehicles more expensive for consumers and contributing to inflation.

The centre-left S&D group and the Greens, however, called for a strengthening of the Commission proposal, arguing that doing so was necessary on health grounds.

Without stricter regulations, air pollution from vehicles would contribute to thousands of premature deaths across Europe, particularly in urban areas, they argued.

The liberal Renew group acted as kingmaker, ultimately siding with the EPP and ECR groups to successfully back a milder version of the law.

The ENVI committee position would see passenger car combustion engines unchanged from the previous standards (Euro 6). Testing conditions would also be more in line with Euro 6.

MEPs want the Commission to finalise technical rules for the standards within 12 months of the primary legislation taking effect, with an additional two years before it enters into force for cars and vans (expected to be 2027) and an additional four years for heavy-duty vehicles (expected to be 2029).

Emissions from tyres and brake pads will be more strictly tackled – emissions that will continue to be released even after the adoption of electric vehicles.

The committee also pushed for higher durability standards for electric vehicle batteries, ensuring they retain up to 75% of their original capacity after 10 years, and the addition of onboard monitoring systems to measure exhaust emissions.

The environment committee position passed with 52 votes in favour, 32 against and one abstention.

Lead lawmaker pushes against stricter vehicle pollution standards

The European Commission’s ‘Euro 7’ proposal on vehicle pollution standards came under fire again on Tuesday (27 June), with the file’s lead EU lawmaker slamming it as harmful to consumers and automakers and arguing that substantial changes are needed.

Striking a balance

Rapporteur Alexandr Vondra, a Czech lawmaker with the ECR group, said that the committee managed to “steer clear of extreme positions”.

“We have successfully struck a balance between environmental goals and the vital interests of manufacturers,” he said in a statement. “It would be counterproductive to implement environmental policies that harm both Europe’s industry and its citizens.”

Susana Solís Pérez, the Renew shadow rapporteur, said she was “very pleased” with the vote, as it met her objective “to harmonise environmental protection with economic viability”.

Solís Pérez said the agreed text doesn’t “impose undue financial burdens”, making “the shift to cleaner air affordable for manufacturers and our citizens”.

In contrast, the centre-left Socialists & Democrats group released a fiery response, condemning the conservatives and liberals for choosing to “significantly lower the ambition of the Euro 7 standards”.

“The deal in the European Parliament is not worthy of being labelled as Euro 7. It offers only minor improvements to current regulations, which will not significantly enhance air quality,” said S&D shadow rapporteur Christel Schaldemose.

“We urgently need to address air pollution. If we, as MEPs, fail to do so, others will be compelled to take action to reduce pollution,” she added, predicting that the rules will lead to a rise in zero-emission zones in cities.

Reactions

Car manufacturer lobby group ACEA said that while the ENVI committee text improves on the Commission proposal, it “still falls short”.

Automakers have long campaigned against Euro 7 standards, arguing that stricter air pollution requirements would pull funding away from clean vehicle technology. Rather, current model vehicles already reach a high standard, it is argued.

“It is simply incorrect to describe Euro 6/VI vehicles as ‘highly polluting’ as some stakeholders do. Euro 6/VI regulations have delivered and are continuing to do so,” said ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries.

The trade association called for MEPs to vote for a “sensible and proportionate” regulation, code for less restrictive, during the plenary meeting.

Conversely, green mobility NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) urged MEPs to raise their ambition at plenary, decrying the ENVI position as giving the auto industry “a free pass”.

“The same parliament that voted for more ambitious air quality standards is killing off the Euro 7 legislation that’s crucial to delivering cleaner air for all,” said Anna Krajinska, vehicle emissions and air quality manager at T&E.

“Overall Euro 7 is much, much weaker following the proposals put forward by the environmental committee. The small gains on durability and non-exhaust pollution in no way compensate for the disastrous weakening of limits and testing for cars, vans and trucks,” she added.

A plenary vote is expected on the ENVI committee position on 8/9th November.

[Edited by Nathalie Weatherald]

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