In a recent Plenary session, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) took a significant step towards reducing road transport emissions. They adopted their negotiating position on revamping EU rules for type-approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles, known as Euro 7, with a considerable majority of 329 votes in favor, 230 against, and 41 abstentions. These new regulations aim to update current limits for exhaust emissions and introduce measures to curtail emissions from tires, brakes, and enhance battery durability.
Under the proposed Euro 7 regulations, MEPs notably concur with the Commission’s outlined levels for pollutant emissions in passenger cars. Additionally, they suggest a more finely-tuned categorization of emissions for light commercial vehicles based on their weight. Moreover, stricter limits on exhaust emissions, both in laboratory and real driving conditions, are proposed for buses and heavy-duty vehicles. Parliament also seeks to align calculation methodologies and limits for brake particle emissions and tire abrasion rates with international standards being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Rapporteur Alexandr Vondra (ECR, CZ) commented, “We have successfully struck a balance between environmental goals and the vital interests of manufacturers. It would be counterproductive to implement environmental policies that harm both Europe’s industry and its citizens. Through our compromise, we serve the interests of all parties involved and steer clear of extreme positions.”
The next step entails Parliament initiating talks with EU governments to finalize the legislation. This significant progress reflects citizen expectations of promoting electric vehicles with good battery life standards, advancing digital and electrical infrastructure deployment, and reducing the EU’s energy dependency on foreign actors.
The Euro 7 proposal, presented by the European Commission on November 10, 2022, demonstrates a concerted effort to establish more stringent air pollutant emissions standards for combustion-engine vehicles, regardless of the fuel used. Besides addressing exhaust emissions, the Euro 7 regulations extend their scope to non-exhaust emissions such as microplastics from tires and particles from brakes, while also incorporating requirements regarding battery durability.
This report from the European Parliament aligns with the aspirations conveyed by citizens during the Conference on the Future of Europe. These aspirations include promoting the purchase of electric vehicles, striving for good battery life standards, advancing digital and electrical infrastructure, and reducing the EU’s reliance on external entities for energy.
For more details, please refer to the recent press release, which delves into the intricacies of the adopted negotiating position. The text adopted by Parliament will be made available for review, and interested parties can access the recording of the plenary debate, the procedure file, and further detailed information regarding Euro 7 motor vehicle emission standards through the provided links.
These strides made by MEPs exemplify their dedication in finding the delicate equilibrium between environmental objectives and the interests of manufacturers. Through a balanced approach, Europe aims to foster a cleaner and more sustainable road transport sector without jeopardizing its industrial competitiveness or the well-being of its citizens.
Market Capital Research 