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EU parliament gives green light for loopholes in car emissions tests EU parliament gives green light for loopholes in car emissions tests
(35 minutes later)
MEPs have failed to veto loopholes in air pollution limits on new diesel cars, despite public anger in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal.MEPs have failed to veto loopholes in air pollution limits on new diesel cars, despite public anger in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal.
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions will now be allowed at twice the EU’s 80mg per km limit from 2019 and 50% more from 2021, under a proposal backed by EU governments.Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions will now be allowed at twice the EU’s 80mg per km limit from 2019 and 50% more from 2021, under a proposal backed by EU governments.
In a Strasbourg vote on air pollutant emissions standards on Wednesday, MEPs rejected the proposal by 323 votes to 317. But this fell short of the absolute majority of 376 needed for a veto as required under the EU’s ‘comitology’ voting rules. In a Strasbourg vote on air pollutant emissions standards on Wednesday, MEPs rejected the proposal by 323 votes to 317. But this fell short of the absolute majority of 376 needed for a veto as required under the EU’s “comitology” voting rules.
The failure to veto the loopholes came despite the proposal being deemed unlawful in a separate vote by the parliament’s legal committee on Tuesday night.The failure to veto the loopholes came despite the proposal being deemed unlawful in a separate vote by the parliament’s legal committee on Tuesday night.
Pressure from several governments sensitive to car industry demands – and some trade unions – was credited with splitting national socialist and liberal groupings in parliament. Sixty one lawmakers abstained from the vote. Pressure from several governments sensitive to car industry demands – and some trade unions – was credited with splitting national socialist and liberal groupings in parliament. Sixty-one lawmakers abstained from the vote.
“Today was a good day for dirty deals and a bad day for cleaner air,” said the Liberal MEP, Catherine Bearder. “But the close vote shows there remains strong opposition to the weakening of emission limits.” “Today was a good day for dirty deals and a bad day for cleaner air,” said the Liberal Democrat MEP, Catherine Bearder. “But the close vote shows there remains strong opposition to the weakening of emission limits.”
The UK government called on MEPs to back the proposal arguing that it would “significantly reduce real world NOx emissions from new diesel cars from 2017,” in an advice document for MEPs, seen by the Guardian.The UK government called on MEPs to back the proposal arguing that it would “significantly reduce real world NOx emissions from new diesel cars from 2017,” in an advice document for MEPs, seen by the Guardian.