Negotiators from the EU Parliament and the EU member states agreed on the new emission limits for cars, buses, and other (heavy) vehicles, commonly known as the Euro 7 standards.

As the original proposals of the European Commission have been weakened by both the member states and the EU Parliament, reactions to the final decision are mitigated. The European car industry seems predominantly satisfied, but the environmental movement is upset mainly.

Fairly happy

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) seems pretty happy and “takes note of today’s Euro 7 trilogue agreement, which marks a major milestone in Europe’s world-leading record of setting emissions standards for cars, vans, trucks, and buses, and provides planning certainty going forward.”

“Although we will only understand the full details once we can assess the entire document, we note that the inter-institutional negotiators have principally opted to prioritize future-oriented challenges, such as light-duty vehicle brake emissions and electric vehicle battery requirements. Exhaust emission limits and test procedures for heavy-duty vehicles were also significantly tightened,” stated Sigrid de Vries, ACEA Director General.

The European vehicle industry welcomes the planning certainty. “To ensure sufficient lead times, we now count on the European Commission’s support to deliver robust secondary legislation as swiftly as possible, de Vries added.

“It is important to note that many new provisions bring significant technical and investment challenges at a crucial time in the zero-emission mobility transformation. As key elements are still to be decided through secondary legislation, we will continue working to ensure a realistic Euro 7, within the limitations imposed by the primary legislation,” de Vries also warned.

She ends by patting her industry on the back: “We should not underestimate the huge progress made by European vehicle manufacturers in reducing pollutant emissions from road transport,” she boasted.

“Indeed, emissions were slashed by over 90% between the first Euro standard and the first version of Euro 6. The greatest improvements in air quality will be achieved by replacing older vehicles on EU roads and rapid electrification.”

‘Car lobby is back’

A completely different story is heard in the reaction of the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). Lucien Mathieu, cars director at T&E, said: “The car lobby is back in control after a few years in the wilderness following dieselgate. The Euro 7 standard agreed by lawmakers will allow car companies to greenwash vehicles that are virtually no cleaner.”

The only improvement in car tailpipe emissions compared to Euro 6 was that lawmakers agreed to count smaller particles than under the existing law. But limits on the emissions of NOx, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons and the mass of particulate matter remain unchanged, T&E stipulates.

“Last month, major European newspapers reported how the car industry mounted a lobbying campaign based on misinformation to weaken the original plans for Euro 7 that would have prevented 35 000 premature deaths,” warns T&E.

“The law will set legal limits for nearly 100 million gasoline and diesel cars sold in Europe after 2025 when it is supposed to come into force. T&E is warning that citizens’ health will suffer for decades due to the watering down of the rules for emissions from cars, vans, buses, and trucks.”

The European Parliament and Environment Ministers must still vote on Monday’s agreement before entering into force. “The European Parliament has a final chance to say ‘no’ to this shameless capitulation to the auto industry,” concludes Lucien Mathieu.