European Parliament fails to veto breach of car pollution limits - Main contents

Today, in a plenary vote, the European Parliament accepted a proposal on new emissions tests in which cars can continue to breach legal emission limits agreed back in 2007. A proposal by the Parliament's environment committee to veto the plan failed to reach the required absolute majority, despite major concerns expressed about car emission rules compliance after the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Member of the European Parliament, Environment Committee coordinator for the ALDE Group:

"EU governments and the European Commission have undermined democratically agreed pollution limits in a backroom, but we failed to stand up against this injustice. People living in the polluted cities and car manufacturers that have invested in clean technology pay the price."

"Unfortunately, clean air, fair competition and the rule of law did not get a majority today. In a strong European democracy it is unacceptable that Member States refuse to be publicly accountable for their unfounded decision."