The “Dieselgate” enquiry committee of the European Parliament, established after the diesel car emissions scandal, has its final session today (Tuesday). The committee members will approve their final report and a series of recommendations for member states and the European Commission.
The “Dieselgate” scandal broke out in September 2015. This was at the point when Volkswagen stated its serious breach to the American authorities. In some of its diesel models, it had fitted a particular type of software which artificially reduced nitrous oxide emissions, compared to actual emissions.
Three months later, the European Parliament set up an enquiry committee. The Belgian Kathleen Van Brempt (of the Alternative Socialist party) was appointed Chair of the committee.
Over a period of ten months, the committee examined how it had been possible to commit the fraud at European level, and not only on the part of VW.
Today the committee will vote on its final report.
It will focus on the use of fraudulent software, on the difference between emissions measured in the laboratory and on the road, and the problems with approving such devices for these vehicles. It will also consider the application of European regulations by member states.
The European Parliament committee members will also approve recommendations aiming to avoid such scandals happening again.
The draft text of the final report has 13 pages, to which 205 amendments have been added. The recommendations (currently) run to eight pages, with 181 amendments.
The vote is due to take place at 3 p.m. Kathleen Van Brempt and those involved in writing the final report will hold a press conference one hour later. The texts will be voted upon during a plenary sitting during April.
The Brussels Times
