EU Proposes Regional Oversight on Emission Testing

The European Commission is proposing a plan that would give it power to monitor emission certification testing by EU member nations and levy fines for non-compliance.

The draft proposal is to be released today. Reuters says the plan also would allow any EU member to order recalls of vehicles from other member countries if the cars are discovered to fall short of emission standards. The scheme would replace the current system, which limits recall powers to national regulatory agencies and extends only to vehicles sold within each country's borders.

The tighter rules are a partial result of Volkswagen AG’s diesel emission test cheating scandal. The crisis focused renewed attention on the huge gap between emission levels measured in certification lab tests and those typical in real-life driving conditions. Research sponsored by the EC found on-the-road emissions can range as high as five times the regulatory limit.

The proposal is likely to face strong opposition from countries such as Great Britain, which oppose strengthening the powers of the EU, according to Reuters. The news service notes that Germany, for example, has repeatedly pressured EU rulings to shield its domestic automakers.