FDP politician Wissing had already warned the European Commission about the stranding of millions of diesel vehicles and demanded clarification in a fiery letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The background to the debate is a case before the ECJ concerning a so-called preliminary question from the Duisburg Regional Court. It also concerns compliance with the Euro 5 emissions limits for diesel vehicles. Euro 5 is an emissions standard.
EU regulations on pollutant levels
According to EU legislation, the emissions values must be met under certain conditions (the so-called NEDC test). This is carried out in test centres. Following the diesel scandal, emissions tests under real driving conditions were also developed. This procedure now also applies to the approval of new vehicle types from the “Euro 6d temp” standard. According to the Commission, the ECJ had already ruled in a previous ruling that emissions tests should no longer be limited to laboratory tests.
According to Wissing, the EU Commission assumed in the court proceedings that the pollutant limits would apply to all driving situations. This would mean that the limit values would also have to be complied with when driving fully loaded on a slope – for example, when a fully loaded car is driving uphill and emits comparatively more pollutants. According to Wissing, this is not feasible with the current state of technology. All Euro 5 approvals would be called into question. Consequences for vehicles that meet the Euro 6 emissions standard are also not ruled out. “Millions of vehicles are at risk of being put out of service,” Wissing says in his letter.
Open court decision
Breton described Wissing’s assumption in the response letter requested by Commission President von der Leyen as “misleading.” The Commission had merely stated “that the emission limits for cars must be complied with under normal operating conditions,” a spokesperson added. This does not mean all driving situations. The authority had never changed its position on the matter either. Breton wrote: “Without prejudging the outcome of the pending legal proceedings, the Commission will continue to call for solutions that promote clean and healthy air and to demand a predictable and enforceable legal framework.” /rdz/DP/he
