In Brussels EU circles, one hears occasionally the German word “Diesel-driving ban”. But the Rest of the EU looks somewhat surprised on how the energy of the country charged in the largest member in order to limit air pollution, and driving bans for cars in urban areas is a struggle. Norbert Lins (CDU) of baden-württemberg member of the European Parliament, has experienced this, as he has set in the environment Committee of the Parliament, conducted a study to compare the criteria for the selection of the measuring stations. It had long given of any fellow Members interested in the matter. Until the very end, a member of the 5 star movement from Italy that in the course of the study, measuring stations in Italy are investigated.
Lin’s suspected, what is the reason for the low interest in the Rest of the EU: “the discussion on The limit values in Germany is more pronounced than in other European countries. This is mainly due to the disproportionate consequences.“ No country have such a strong print, such as Germany. Nowhere else will the driving ban be as far-reaching as in Germany. “Nowhere else, there are driving bans for Euro 4 Diesel, nowhere else bans for Euro-5 Diesel threaten soon.”
the air is in at least five other member States of the EU for years, so bad that the EU Commission in may of last year, due to long-Harming air pollution control policy has not only initiated against Germany in an action before the European court of justice (ECJ): in addition, France, Hungary, Italy, Romania and the United Kingdom.
Sharpest prohibition in Stuttgart
The sharpest-driving bans across the EU, there are actually in Stuttgart, Where the entire city area, including the 23 city is locked in the districts since the beginning of the year for Diesel Cars and Trucks to Euro 4. Of this, 35 percent of the diesel stock, nationwide, to be affected, are estimated to be theoretically 5,23 million vehicles. In contrast, according to the Lins, in any EU country, a ban for Euro 4 Diesel. In the Metropolitan area of Paris, with ten million inhabitants, only Diesel were prohibited to Euro 2. In Italy there are driving bans for Diesel to Euro 3, in Budapest, the entrance was prohibited only in the case of Smog Alarm with Diesel to Euro 3. In the UK’s capital city London, owner of emissions-intensive car have to pay in a certain Zone, a fee of 24 pounds.
unlike in Germany, the member States are, therefore, in most of the EU, relatively few Diesel-vehicle owners of driving bans affected. Therefore, Lin’s expects to take a few chances on the EU level, a Revision of the limits to enforce. It would require anyway a thrust of the EU Commission, the Council and Parliament would then have to agree with a majority. Lins sees greater prospects of success if the selection of the measuring stations in five States will be compared. Results should be available in mid-March. The Federal environment Agency is coordinating, in cooperation with the state institutes for the environment the installation of the measuring stations. If it should turn out that in Germany, the criteria applied incorrectly, be it at the national level can be corrected.
of Each EU-member criteria
the question of why there is in Germany a serious driving bans and nowhere else in the EU countries, which also suffer from poor air? Remains The widespread bans on driving in Stuttgart and other German cities were not adopted voluntarily by the authorities. Rather, they were set by the environmental assistance in a number of proceedings before the court. The environmental aid avails himself of the privilege that you as a consumer and environmental protection Association has rights of suit. Association of rights of action exist in all EU member States. This provides for an EU Directive from 2009. Each member state can decide the criteria according to which he forgives the Association’s right of action. Perhaps organisations such as the DUH in other countries do not have the right of collective action. It is also conceivable that there is elsewhere in the EU, organisations such as the DUH, who would argue vehemently for driving bans to court.