EU Parliament delays vote on new car pollution limits

(planet-ark, 15 Jan 2016) The European Parliament on Thursday postponed a vote on new car pollution limits that could have killed a compromise agreed by EU members, as politicians argue over whether to seek tougher limits despite the delays that would entail.

With strong political momentum for stricter emission limits after the Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) scandal, the assembly had been due to vote next week on a parliamentary proposal to reject a compromise agreed by representatives of the 28 European Union nations in October. [L8N12S37A]

The vote pits lawmakers, who side with automakers pushing for the compromise proposal to be adopted now, against environmentalists seeking tougher rules.

The diluted deal would allow cars to carry on emitting more than twice official limits on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, blamed for premature death and respiratory diseases.

It was overwhelmingly rejected by the assembly's environment committee last month, but members of the center-right European People's Party (EPP) and of the Socialists and Democrats on Thursday supported pushing back a plenary vote until next month.

The EPP, the biggest political group, argued that rejecting the draft law would delay changes to old limits while a new proposal is thrashed out and the automotive industry would lack certainty to make business adjustments and invest in cleaner technology.

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planet-ark, 15 Jan 2016: EU Parliament delays vote on new car pollution limits