EU Countries Vote To Weaken Next Car Emissions Standard

Member countries have weakened a proposal made by the European Union's executive body to lower vehicle emissions, Reuters reported.

The European Commission had updated pollution standards for new combustion engine vehicles last year in an effort to lower emissions from tailpipes, brakes, and tyres. After the 27-nation bloc forbids their sale in 2035, these vehicles are expected to continue running on European roads for a considerable amount of time.

The Commission hoped the new regulations would cut nitrogen oxide emissions from cars and vans by 35% and those from buses and trucks by 56% when compared to the existing exhaust emission regulations for pollutants other than carbon dioxide.

The EU's rotating presidency is currently being held by Spain, but several member states and automakers pushed for weaker legislation, and on Monday, they agreed to a watered-down compromise proposed by Spain.

Member states opted to keep the existing emissions standards and inspection requirements for cars, trucks, and vans while lowering them only for buses and large commercial vehicles. They also decided to lower the limits on emissions from tyre abrasion rate and brake particle emissions.

Last year, EU lawmakers and member states agreed to prohibit the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2035. The agreement was part of the EU's "Fit for 55" package, which was put in place by the European Commission to achieve the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55% over the next decade.

Carmakers will be required to cut emissions from new cars sold by 55% in 2030, compared to 2021, before reaching a 100% reduction five years later.

The Commission believed that introducing new pollution standards for the last generation of combustion engines was critical because vehicles introduced before the 2035 deadline would remain in service for years.

According to the EU, transport emissions cause approximately 70,000 premature deaths in the bloc each year.