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European Parliament to vote on Dieselgate: Full throttle for consumer protection?

Published on 03.04.2017

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PRESS STATEMENT - 03.04.2017

The overhaul to EU car testing hinges on two crucial votes taking place tomorrow (4 April) in the European Parliament. The outcome will show whether EU policy makers are truly set on protecting consumers and tackling the fundamental problems associated with the Volkswagen and wider emissions scandal.

 

One of the votes will influence the way cars are tested before sale and once on the road. The Parliament should improve the draft law by creating a European vehicle surveillance agency, thus avoiding political and industry interference, and ensure that consumers are protected when fraud is committed. The second vote, dealing with the Parliament’s investigation into the emission scandal, must acknowledge that affected European VW owners deserve compensation.[1]

Monique Goyens, Director General of BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation, said:

“The European car testing system is broken and needs to be fixed. The European Parliament has a golden opportunity to rip apart the current system of complacency and cosy relationships between the inspectors and the car industry. A dedicated European car agency would ensure proper oversight over car makers and testing services.

“The European Parliament’s investigation into the scandal has revealed numerous flaws on the part of national and European authorities. Volkswagen has specifically cheated millions of consumers and we call on MEPs to demand compensation for affected car owners. European consumers expect that companies who break the law will be held accountable.”

Major European consumer groups launch Dieselgate campaign

Four major consumer groups from Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain are launching today a campaign to “demand justice”. These organisations have launched collective actions against Volkswagen in their respective courts to seek reimbursement. Such court actions are not possible in other countries because of lack of European collective redress tools. More info available on their websites: Altroconsumo (IT), DECO (PT), OCU (ES), Test-Achats/Test Aankoop (BE).

Read our letter to the EU Parliament, March 2017


[1] The whole Parliament will vote on the reports recently adopted by the IMCO and the EMIS committees.

 

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Pauline Constant, BEUC
Pauline Constant
Director