Ministers of the various EU member states have agreed to an adjustment of the storming Euro 7 emissions standard. They are thus giving the green light to weaken the standard.
This is reported by Reuters. The Euro 7 standard is a new standard that further tightens vehicle emissions limits. The standard was presented in 2022 and led to a storm of criticism. Several EU Member States, including France, Italy and the Czech Republic, are strongly opposed to the introduction of the Euro 7 standard. Among other things, these countries argue that the new standard will cost car manufacturers a great deal of money and effort, whilst the environmental benefits would be limited. The EU Member States also argue that the money required to meet the Euro 7 standard would be better spent on electrifying the European vehicle fleet.
Proposed compromise
Spain subsequently proposed a compromise, which EU member state ministers now back, according to Reuters. Part of this compromise includes the Euro 7 standard sticking to the NOx emissions we already know from the Euro 6 standard. This entails no change for petrol vehicles, but does lower requirements for diesel vehicles. The Euro 6d standard set this limit at 80 mg per kilometre, which would become 60 mg per kilometre in Euro 7. This limit has long applied to petrol vehicles.
Sticking to the Euro 6 standard also means less stringent requirements on how to measure vehicle emissions. Another important change is that vehicles will not have to continue to meet the established emissions standards for 10 years, whereas the original plan for the Euro 7 standard did.
Tyre wear and brake dust also count
In practice, Euro 7 still brings stricter requirements even in toned-down form. An important change from the Euro 6 standard is that harmful substances that cause tyre wear and brake dust also count.
Reuters also reports that the Euro 7 standard for trucks and buses will not be toned down. This is striking, as Euro 7 was supposed to be the very first standard in which the distinction between trucks and buses on the one hand and passenger vehicles on the other would be abandoned. However, according to Reuters, this distinction will therefore remain even in the weakened Euro 7 standard.
Not yet final
Although ministers from the various EU member states have agreed to the compromise proposed by Spain, it does not mean that the Euro 7 standard will be weakened for good. Both the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission still have to agree to the plan. The Euro 7 standard should be in force from 1 July 2025.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Arek Socha via Pixabay
