Strategy to ban diesel and fossil fuels

12.3.2018

Question for written answer E-001505-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Răzvan Popa (S&D)

A German court in Leipzig ruled on 27 February 2018 that cities may ban diesel cars to tackle pollution. This could result in heavily polluting vehicles disappearing from roads across Germany in an effort to improve air quality standards. This might be a future step for other countries in an effort to eliminate polluting vehicles that run on diesel and other fossil fuels.

In this context, there are already Member States that have decided on targets for eliminating polluting vehicles and implementing the shift in the car fleet to electric driven vehicles. France and the UK are considering banning sales of vehicles that run on fossil fuel from 2040. Germany and Poland are considering introducing 1 million new electric cars, by 2020 and 2025 respectively. The Netherlands is also channelling efforts to reduce the number of emission-producing vehicles to zero from 2050.

What is the Commission’s position regarding the banning of highly polluting vehicles? Does it intend to implement a strategy for the Union to ban cars powered by diesel and other fossil fuels?

Is the Commission considering implementing an incentive strategy at Union level to encourage all Member States to shift their fleets to zero emission vehicles?