The European Commission tried to make emissions limits for cars and vans less stringent, but three European capitals rejected the plans. Paris, Madrid and Brussels took the Commission to court, and won.
“The General Court upholds the actions brought by the cities of Paris, Brussels and Madrid and annuls in part the Commission’s regulations setting excessively high oxides of nitrogen emission limits for the tests for new light passenger and commercial vehicles,” the General Court in Luxembourg said in a statement on December 13.
As reported by Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international broadcaster, Paris, Brussels and Madrid brought the legal action against the Commission, claiming its standards were not demanding enough of manufacturers.
The court sided with the capitals, ruling the Commission did not have the power to change the emissions limits as it had done. The cities worried the change could cause more pollution.
The Commission had increased the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) allowed in emissions to give automakers more time to adapt to new tests.
