Patchwork of low-emission zones

13.2.2018

Question for written answer P-000885-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ivo Belet (PPE)

To improve air quality in cities, more than 225 low-emission zones have been established in 14 EU Member States, banning the most-polluting vehicles from entry.

The approach and the associated standards and penalties vary greatly from city to city, from region to region and from Member State to Member State. There is now a patchwork of more than 200 different vignettes, emission standards and monitoring models. This inevitably creates confusion among drivers, which is even worse in border regions.

In its reply to Question E-001693/2017, the Commission refers to a study that has been commissioned concerning the regulation of access to cities for vehicles and the enforcement of the access regimes in Europe. The results were expected in the summer of 2017.

What results has the study on the regulation of vehicle access to cities produced, and what action does the Commission intend to take in the light of them?

Does the Commission agree that an initiative should be taken to streamline all of these different models of emission zones, and if so, does the Commission intend to take action on the matter in the short term?

In the Commission’s opinion, what system, what method of calculation, is the most effective, consumer-friendly and future-proof, and ought without further ado to be recommended as ‘best practice’?