During the plenary session (25-28 March 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the recent developments on the Dieselgate scandal on 25th March and vote on 28th. Statements by Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE, Member of the EC in charge of Climate Action and Energy, Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ALDE, NL), and Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

vote

EICKHOUT, Bas (Greens/EFA, NL)

emissions of vehicles (T)

GERBRANDY, Gerben-Jan (ALDE, NL)

ARIAS CAÑETE, Miguel (EPP, ES, EC)

Recent developments on the Dieselgate scandal: extracts from the debate (25/03) and from the vote

SOUNDBITE (English), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Member of the EC in charge of Climate Action and Energy, <p>Three and a half years have passed since Dieselgate broke out. In this time, we learned that European vehicle manufacturers have violated the EU rules on vehicle pollutant emissions. This has been detrimental in many respects. It has affected the air quality and the health of EU citizens, it has affected the trust of EU consumers in EU industry, and it has affected confidence in the whole EU regulatory framework on vehicles.Together with the European Parliament and the Council, the Commission has spared no efforts to put an end to this scandal, to restore confidence and to avoid any repetition in the future.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ALDE, NL), <p>We never cleaned up the mess of Dieselgate. We did come up with new legislation but there are still millions of fraudulent diesel cars being driven around European cities, and what we need is a very strong coordinated European approach. At the moment it is left to the Member States, and what we see happening is that individual Member States take measures in such a way that they might get rid of those cars in their own country, but they will be exported to other European countries. So it remains a European problem, and the effects on millions of European citizens are not being taken seriously. The only institution that can play that role, that can come up with a very strong coordinated European approach, is the Commission. So please, Commissioner, take this seriously and organise a huge summit with all Member States to get these cars off the road. </p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), There are still cars running on the streets, heavily polluting, knowing that they are just dieselgate cars, and that the Commission is not even taking action in getting Member States together on that is really concerning.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), We have cases with the Ombudsman. We want more transparency also on the technical working groups. Also here, the Commission is refusing to give the minutes of technical meetings. We really need them, all the more so because otherwise it just feels that the Commission keeps on protecting Member States and covering up their bad positions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Miguel ARIAS CA&Ntilde;ETE, Member of the EC in charge of Climate Action and Energy, You can be sure that the Commission is committed to making sure that we get to the bottom of Dieselgate. The Member States and industry must take all measures still necessary in order to be able to close the Dieselgate chapter.

Vote on the resolution begins. MEPs adopt the resolution. 301 members voted in favour, 181 members voted against and there were 42 abstentions.