EU’s Decision on Euro 7 Pollution Rules Sparks Debate and Criticism

The European Parliament has given the green light to the Euro 7 pollution rules, but with a less ambitious approach than originally proposed. This decision comes after pressure from countries and automakers, leading to a compromise that is set to impact the automotive industry. The new regulations are expected to take effect no earlier than 2026 for passenger cars and 2027 for heavy trucks, pending final approval in early 2024.

Euro 7 is poised to replace the current Euro 6 standard, which governs emissions from combustion engine cars. The European Commission, responsible for drafting EU laws, has emphasized the health benefits of these regulations, outweighing the associated costs.

However, car manufacturers and countries such as Italy and the Czech Republic have raised concerns about the original proposal, citing excessive costs. They argue that with the EU’s existing deadline to end sales of new CO2-emitting cars in 2035, it would be more beneficial to focus on producing electric vehicles rather than enhancing the environmental impact of combustion engine cars.

In a recent vote, lawmakers opted to retain the commission’s proposal for pollution limits on cars, including nitrous oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and carbon monoxide. This proposal maintains the limits from Euro 6 and introduces new limits on particulate emissions from brakes and tires for the first time.

However, the NOx limits for trucks have been weakened, and the implementation timeline has been delayed. For cars, the rules will apply three years after the passing of all secondary legislation associated with the proposal, contrary to the commission’s initial plan for them to take effect from 2025.

Both the European Council and the parliament have agreed to relax the rules, with the council voting to extend most existing Euro 6 test conditions and emissions limits for cars and vans, albeit with lower limits for buses and heavy vehicles.

The European automakers’ lobbying group, ACEA, has expressed support for the parliament’s position, deeming it a more realistic approach to Euro 7 compared to the commission’s original proposal. On the other hand, environmental group Transport & Environment has criticised the parliament’s stance, describing it as ‘worse than useless’ and failing to significantly enhance air pollution protections beyond Euro 6.

Alexandr Vondra, the lead lawmaker on the rules, hailed the decision as a victory for motorists and a setback for Green and Socialist lawmakers who had pushed for stricter regulations. However, Green lawmakers have voiced disappointment, viewing the vote as a missed opportunity to reduce the approximately 70,000 premature deaths per year in Europe attributed to vehicle pollution.

In summary, the European Parliament’s approval of the Euro 7 pollution rules reflects a compromise between health benefits and industry concerns. While the regulations aim to address vehicle emissions, the decision has sparked debate and criticism from environmental advocates and lawmakers alike.