Government outlined its positions on the European Commission's proposal on Euro 7 emission standards

On 20 December 2022, the Government submitted to Parliament a Union communication regarding the Commission's proposal on the so-called Euro 7 emission standards. The emissions standards apply to vehicle emissions such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particles and nitrogen oxides, which are detrimental to health. The proposal is aimed at reducing the air pollution caused by new motor vehicles sold in the EU. The Government is mainly in favour of the proposal.

The European Commission issued a proposal on the so-called Euro 7 emission standards on 10 November 2022. The proposed standards would replace the previous separate emission rules applied to cars and vans and to lorries and buses. According to the proposal, the standards would enter into force for new vehicles; in June 2025 for cars and vans and in July 2027 for heavy-duty vehicles.

The Euro 7 standards will be the first emission standards in the world to go further than regulating exhaust emissions as they also set limits for the particle emissions from brakes and rules for the microplastics released from tyres. The Euro 7 standards are technology- and fuel-neutral, meaning that the emission limits are the same whether the vehicle is powered by petrol, diesel, electricity or alternative fuels. In addition, the standards support the introduction into use of electric vehicles by regulating battery durability and thus improve consumers' trust in electric cars.

The Government supports the proposal's objective to reduce the pollutant emissions of all new vehicles. The proposals on regulating battery durability and measuring emissions are also good. However, it is important to investigate how the studded and friction tyres made for the conditions in Finland behave in comparison with other tyres. In addition, it is necessary to clarify what kind of overall impacts the proposed tighter limits will have on the emissions from traffic.

What next?

On 20 December 2022, the Government submitted a Union communication on the matter to Parliament. The communication will be discussed in the Grand Committee, to which the special committees concerned will give their opinions.

At the level of the EU, the proposal will be discussed in the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. The working parties of the EU will discuss the matter for the next few months.

Inquiries:

Mari Kaipomäki, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 50 473 2933, [email protected]

Saara Jääskeläinen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 40 015 3745, [email protected]

Sara Österberg, Senior Officer, tel. +358 50 571 5019, [email protected]