New rules will ensure greater transparency in car industry

The European Parliament today approved the text adopted in trilogue negotiations on new legislation on type approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles.

Greens/EFA MEP type approval spokesperson Pascal Durand comments:

"The Dieselgate scandal revealed the full extent of the shortcomings in the approval of vehicles in the EU. A widespread system of emissions fraud and conflicts of interest between states and manufacturers has persisted for too long.

"Many Member States, particularly Germany, have fought to reject reforms; they would rather defend their car industry than the health of European citizens. But the final negotiations have resulted in a solid text that will provide greater transparency in the approval of vehicles by the Member States and for enhanced market surveillance.

"This reform gives the Commission the power to monitor national authorities, to conduct its own market surveillance, to organise EU-wide recall procedures and to impose penalties on fraudulent manufacturers, ensuring genuine European control of the type approval framework. These are real victories.

"Until now, the single market has mainly benefited businesses. It is high time to reshape it to the benefit of consumers, including by strengthening their rights in the event of fraud. While I regret the absence of a provision on collective redress in this text, we will ensure that the Commission's recent proposals on class actions really deliver."