EU drafts emissions law

The European Union has announced plans for further legal action against governments that fail to police emissions test cheating by carmakers. The European Commission has drafted a bill that would overhaul current legislation on how vehicles are licensed and tested across the 28 member states. The draft bill was approved by the internal market committee in a vote yesterday, according to Reuters. The draft law will focus on conflict of interest when national regulators inspect and certify cars made by their own domestic manufacturers and will go to a plenary vote in March. The EU would also get powers to carry out vehicle spot-checks and levy fines under the reforms, while national authorities would be able to peer-review each other's decisions. The EU industry commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska accused member states of obstructing their efforts to rein in the car industry. "Member states really failed to enforce the law,” she said. “I feel they are still playing for time." Brussels first launched legal cases against Britain, Germany and five other EU members in December, accusing the states of colluding with carmakers. Bienkowska said more cases will follow throughout the year.