The European Parliament will adopt its position on new measures to cut down pollutant emissions for passenger cars, vans, buses and trucks (Euro 7). MEPs debate on the report prepared by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). The new Euro 7 regulation would update the current limits for exhaust emissions (such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and ammonia) and introduce new measures to reduce emissions from tyres and brakes, and to increase battery durability. Opening statements by Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

emissions of vehicles (T)

VONDRA, Alexandr (ECR, CZ)

DALLI, Helena (MT, EC)

European Green Deal (T)

Type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7): opening statements by Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, Ladies and gentlemen, almost a year has passed since the Commission published its Euro seven proposal. Unlike previous regulations, Euro seven encompasses a broad range of three hikers, all within a single legal framework. For the first time, this legislation also contains rules affecting the electric bicycles. No matter which politician you ask. They will all claim to be committed to a sustainable automotive industry.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, However, the crucial difference is whether the rules being pushed for Euro seven are realistic. I support the commission goal of producing cleaner cars and improving the quality of the air. But we must also act with due care and caution, not least because the sector accounts for more than 9% of GDP, 26% of manufacturing, and 24% of exports in the country I know best.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, The Commission or general proposal would have a hugely negative impact on consumers and car manufacturers impact, which are disproportionate to its positive environmental effects. Firstly, it would divert resources from decarbonisation by requiring substantial investment in the soon to be obsolete internal combustion engine technology.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, Secondly, there are serious questions over the feasibility of the Commission recommended standards, especially in view of short lead times. Thirdly, the cost implication are a major cause of concern as they would have exceeded the estimates in the proposals impact assessment. This in turn would have led to the higher cost for consumers that are already grappling with the challenges of rising costs of living.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, It was therefore imperative to rework the Commission text and to establish a better balance between environmental objectives and the concerns of consumers and manufacturers. After four months of negotiations, I believe that the mandate adopted in ENVI Committee largely achieves that. First testing parameters are not a revolutionist commission proposed but an evolution from the euro six metres, which ensures that the new emission standards remain economically and technologically feasible.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, Secondly, under this testing conditions, the report is able to correspond with the levels proposed by the Commission for Pollutant emissions for passenger cars and proposes additional three categories for light commercially hikers based on their weight. Thirdly, the adopted text also proposed tougher limits for exhaust emissions from the buses and heavy duty bicycles, including levels set for the real driving emissions force to avoid legal and investor uncertainty.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, This specific implementation timeframes have been included. That in turn linked to the entry into force of all at relevant secondary legislation phase. Once all the relevant secondary legislation is complete, new type fully duty free high schools would have 24 months and new types heavy duty bicycles 48 months to comply.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, All existing types of the light duty bicycles will be left 36 months and heavier duty bicycles 60 months to ensure compliance. The report also better aligns with the EU methodologies and limits for the brake particle emissions and tyre aberrations rates with the Unisys standards, as well as asking for more ambitious, yet achievable goals for electric vehicles, battery durability standards.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexandr VONDRA (ECR, HR), Rapporteur, 'Generally, I believe the committee report represents our best opportunity at securing an interinstitutional agreement ahead of the elections. Why? Because the Council has raised many comparable concerns over the cost timing and technical feasibility. For that reason, we can already see the outline of possible lending space for the compromise between the co-legislators. It is therefore essential that the plenary endorse my committee report. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Thank you. President. Rapporteur Vondra. Shadow rapporteurs. Honourable Members. I thank you all for the progress made on this important and I would say complex file a file that has been subject to significant debate in this House but also in the Commission and among stakeholders, because it touches upon essential aspects of our daily lives.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, The Commission's proposal relied on solid evidence and rigorous assessments, and we made our proposal to respect three main principles, which I trust we can all agree with. One is improving air quality to lower the number of premature deaths in the EU. 70,000 people in Europe die prematurely every year due to air pollution from cars, vans, buses and trucks.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Secondly, putting clean vehicles on the market at affordable prices for our citizens so that citizens across the EU can actually afford new vehicles and not only second hand or third hand vehicles which often pollute more, as we all know. And thirdly, preserving the competitiveness of our automotive industry. And when I speak about automotive industry, I don't only mean large manufacturers. I mean the entire ecosystem, including component manufacturers and aftermarket services.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, And we also need to take into account the broader transformation of the automotive industry. In fact, this Parliament has established earlier this year a very clear pathway to zero emission vehicles. Back in November 2022. The Commission's proposal aimed to strike the right balance between these challenging objectives. We proposed emission limits of achievable with cost effective solutions and technology, which is already available.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, We've proposed future proof elements that will remain valid for electric vehicles, brakes, tires, battery durability. We proposed using available digital technologies like sensors to improve compliance over the lifetime of the vehicle. I recognise and welcome that the overall architecture and some key blocks of our proposal can be found in the Parliament's position.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, 'First, the need to tackle exhaust emissions, both from light duty and from heavy duty vehicles. Second, the need to start regulating non-exhaustive emissions and to do so based on the work carried out at UN level. Global harmonisation of the rules is the best way forward, and Euro 7 will have a pivotal role here.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, And third, the need for rules on battery durability, lifetime requirements and onboard monitoring to ensure high performance over the life of a vehicle. Having said this, there are of course, areas where the Parliament's position diverges from the Commission's, and here timing is important, both from an environmental and an economic perspective.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, With ENVI Committee report Euro 7 requirements will apply about three years later than in the Commission proposal. This will surely give vehicle manufacturers more lead time to adapt to changes. However, it would also give less time to recoup their investment before moving to 100% zero emission vehicles. Postponing the application would also reduce an environmental and health benefits.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Another challenging aspect is the proposed approach to secondary legislation. We are fully committed to be as fast as possible, but the Parliament's proposal will multiply the number of secondary acts, sometimes even overlapping between delegated and implementing acts and setting strict deadlines of only 12 months could also impede our consultation process and create legal risks.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, I also have some questions, or at least doubts concerning some of the proposed changes regarding brake emissions for hybrid electric vehicles or battery durability requirements. And finally, I am aware, of course, that the Council has taken a different position, notably regarding emission limits, but I won't comment any further here today as this will be discussed in the trialogues.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, So to conclude, I want to stress again how encouraging it is to see this House commitment on this file. It is needed so that we can collectively provide regulatory certainty to companies and protection to our citizens, in particular our most vulnerable ones. So in this spirit, I look forward to the debate today and to the upcoming trialogue negotiations. Thank you.