EU wins powers to spot-check vehicles
The EU gained new powers on Thursday to spot-check vehicles and fine automakers under tougher rules agreed after the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal.
The European Commission, the European Parliament and the 28 member states of the European Council said they reached an agreement to tighten the rules "for safer and cleaner cars" following nearly two years of negotiations.
Elzbieta Bienkowska, the European commissioner for industry, said: "I welcome that the key elements of our proposal have been upheld, including real EU oversight and enforcement powers. In the future, the commission will be able to carry out checks on cars, trigger EU-wide recalls, and impose fines of up to €30 000 per car when the law is broken."
The so-called Dieselgate scandal blew open when Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 that it installed software devices in 11-million diesel-engine cars worldwide that reduced emissions of harmful nitrogen oxides when it detected the vehicle was undergoing tests.
Under the new rules that must be formally approved by the European Parliament and member states, technical services will be regularly and independently audited to obtain and maintain their designation by a member state for testing and inspecting new car models.
Member states will now be able to act immediately against non-compliant vehicles on their territory, Currently, the authority that issued the type approval must first take action.
It will have the power to impose fines on manufacturers or technical services of up to €30 000 per non-compliant car.- NAMPA/AFP
The European Commission, the European Parliament and the 28 member states of the European Council said they reached an agreement to tighten the rules "for safer and cleaner cars" following nearly two years of negotiations.
Elzbieta Bienkowska, the European commissioner for industry, said: "I welcome that the key elements of our proposal have been upheld, including real EU oversight and enforcement powers. In the future, the commission will be able to carry out checks on cars, trigger EU-wide recalls, and impose fines of up to €30 000 per car when the law is broken."
The so-called Dieselgate scandal blew open when Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 that it installed software devices in 11-million diesel-engine cars worldwide that reduced emissions of harmful nitrogen oxides when it detected the vehicle was undergoing tests.
Under the new rules that must be formally approved by the European Parliament and member states, technical services will be regularly and independently audited to obtain and maintain their designation by a member state for testing and inspecting new car models.
Member states will now be able to act immediately against non-compliant vehicles on their territory, Currently, the authority that issued the type approval must first take action.
It will have the power to impose fines on manufacturers or technical services of up to €30 000 per non-compliant car.- NAMPA/AFP
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