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| EU sues Germany and Britain over Volkswagen emissions scandal | EU sues Germany and Britain over Volkswagen emissions scandal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The European Commission has launched legal action against seven nations including Germany and the UK for failing to clamp down on the emissions cheating exposed by the the "dieselgate scandal". | The European Commission has launched legal action against seven nations including Germany and the UK for failing to clamp down on the emissions cheating exposed by the the "dieselgate scandal". |
| The move reflects mounting frustration in Brussels over how governments have responded to the widening scandal, which began with revelations last year that German manufacturer Volkswagen had used illegal software to mask emission of dangerous nitrogen oxides (NOx) on tests. | |
| Officials in Brussels said Germany, Britain, Spain and Luxembourg were accused of not imposing the same kind of penalties VW faced in the United States over its use of illegal software. | Officials in Brussels said Germany, Britain, Spain and Luxembourg were accused of not imposing the same kind of penalties VW faced in the United States over its use of illegal software. |
| The European Commission has further called on Germany and the UK, claiming both refused to share details on breaches of EU emissions laws uncovered in national investigations this year. | The European Commission has further called on Germany and the UK, claiming both refused to share details on breaches of EU emissions laws uncovered in national investigations this year. |
| The other nations' actions under the spotlight are the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Greece. | The other nations' actions under the spotlight are the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Greece. |
| Germany argues EU rules in this area are poorly framed. | Germany argues EU rules in this area are poorly framed. |
| However, Brussels insisted that it is the nation's responsability to make sure carmakers comply with the law. | However, Brussels insisted that it is the nation's responsability to make sure carmakers comply with the law. |
| “Abiding by the law is first and foremost the duty of car manufacturers,” Elzbieta Bienkowska, EU Internal Market Commissioner, said in a statement Thursday. | “Abiding by the law is first and foremost the duty of car manufacturers,” Elzbieta Bienkowska, EU Internal Market Commissioner, said in a statement Thursday. |
| “But national authorities across the EU must ensure that car manufacturers actually comply with the law,” she added. | “But national authorities across the EU must ensure that car manufacturers actually comply with the law,” she added. |
| The VW's emissions scandal led Germany to order an EU-wide recall of 8.5 million Volkswagen vehicles. | The VW's emissions scandal led Germany to order an EU-wide recall of 8.5 million Volkswagen vehicles. |
| Since the VW revelations, it has emerged that other manufacturers, which include Daimler's Mercedes-Benz and General Motor's Opel and Fiat, have also used sophisticated, software-based techniques so their cars pass official tests despite emitting far higher levels of NOx on the road. The practices include switching off emissions control systems outside of narrow temperature ranges, or after a period of time just longer than the tests. | Since the VW revelations, it has emerged that other manufacturers, which include Daimler's Mercedes-Benz and General Motor's Opel and Fiat, have also used sophisticated, software-based techniques so their cars pass official tests despite emitting far higher levels of NOx on the road. The practices include switching off emissions control systems outside of narrow temperature ranges, or after a period of time just longer than the tests. |
| Thursday's notice is the first step in what is known as infringement procedures, allowing the EU to ensure the bloc's 28 nations abide by agreed EU-wide regulations. | Thursday's notice is the first step in what is known as infringement procedures, allowing the EU to ensure the bloc's 28 nations abide by agreed EU-wide regulations. |
| The governments have two months to answer the commission. | |
| Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |