EU Panel Votes to Speed Tougher Emission Rules

The European Parliament's environment committee has approved a measure to accelerate public debate on a proposed law to update emission testing rules by 2017.

Discussion so far has been conducted in closed-door committee meetings, Reuters says. The news service notes the new rules would supplement the current laboratory test procedure with real-world emission checks. Environmental groups, which are pushing the legislation, complain the gap between current certification tests and on-the-road performance has grown to about 40% as manufacturers exploit loopholes to enhance test results.

The committee's vote comes as global auto markets react to the discovery by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that Volkswagen AG has been equipping some of its diesels with software that switches off certain air pollution controls except during emission tests. The negative publicity has cut VW Group's market value by about €24 billion so far this week.

Reuters says the environment committee also agreed that talks to formalize the language of the new rules should begin immediately. The talks will involve representatives from EU member states, the European Commission and the European Parliament.