Skip to main content Skip to page footer
elni logo elni logo

The Volkswagen Scandal - Air Pollution and Administrative Inertia

Ludwig Krämer

elni Review 2016, Issue 2, pp. 64-74. https://doi.org/10.46850/elni.2016.010

This contribution deals with the manipulation of NOX emissions from Volkswagen diesel cars on the one hand, and with the manipulation of CO2 emissions from diesel and petrol cars by Volkswagen on the other. The scandal became public in 2015. Volkswagen is a German car manufacturer; to the company also belong Porsche, Audi, Skoda, Scania, Ducati, Seat, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Quattro.

Access full article

References

  1. ‘Notice of Violation’ letter of 18 September 2015.
  2. EPA letter of 18 September 2015, signed by P. A. Brooks and addressed to Volkswagen AG.
  3. CARB letter of 18 September 2015, signed by A. Hebert, Ref. IUC-2015-007.
  4. Regulation (EC) no 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information, OJ 2007 L 171/1.
  5. Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), OJ 2012 C 226/47.
  6. Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailer, and of system components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, OJ 2007 L 263/1.
  7. European Parliament, Resolution of 27 October 2015 on emission measurements in the automotive sector (2015/2865(RSP)) no 22.
  8. Directive 2014/45 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/40/EU, OJ 2014 L 127/51.
  9. Regulation No 83 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UN(ECE) – Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the emission of pollutants according to engine fuel requirements, OJ 2015 L 172/1.
  10. Regulation (EC) no 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community’s integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles, OJ 2009 L 140/1.
  11. Regulation (EU) no 510/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2011 setting emission performance standards for new light commercial vehicles as part of the Union's integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles, OJ 2011 L 145/1.
  12. Regulation (EC) no 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directives 80/1269/EEC, 2005/55/EC and 2005/78/EC, OJ 2009 L 188/1.
  13. Regulation (EC) no 715/2007 of the European parliament and of the council of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information, OJ 2007 L 171/1.
  14. Directive 1999/96 (EC) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 199 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from compression ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous pollutants from positive ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles and amending Council Directive 88/77/EEC, OJ 2000 L 44/1.
  15. Written Question E-0460/03 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission. Compliance with emission standards for heavy goods vehicles (Directive 1999/96/EC), OJ 2003 C 192/189.
  16. Written Question E-0104/03 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. Modification of lorry engines, OJ 2003 C 242E/95.
  17. Written Question E-0530/04 by Bernd Lange (PSE), Karin Scheele (PSE) and Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Commission. Euronorm standards and particulates emitted from diesel vehicles, OJ 2004 C 84E/422.
  18. Commission Directive 2001/27/EC of 10 April 2001 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 88/77/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from compression-ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous pollutants from positive-ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles, OJ 2001 L 107/10.
  19. Commission, letter of 27 November 2015, GROW/C4/SP/Ares(2015)5738971.
  20. Straßenverkehrszulassungsordnung of 26 April 2012, BGBl.2012, I p. 679.
  21. Verordnung über die EG-Genehmigung für Kraftfahrzeuge und ihre Anhänger (EC Vehicle Approval Regulation), of 3 February 2011 (BGBL 2011, I p.126).
  22. Ministère de l'Écologie, du Développement Durable et de l'Énergie, Letter of 27 February 2013, entitled: “Arsenal juridique francais, permettant de sanctionner les infractions visées par l'article 46 de la directive-cadre 2007/46 et par certains de ses règlements d'application”.
  23. Decreto Ministeriale of 28 April 2008, Gazz.Uff. 162, Supplemento Ord. n.167 of 17 July 2008.
  24. Real Decreto 750/2010 de 4 de junio, por el que se regula los procedi- mientos de homologación de veiculos de motor, BOE 2010, no. 153, p.55026.
  25. Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2009, Statutory Instruments 2009 No. 717.Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offences Act 2012 (Fines on Summary Conviction) Regulations 2015.
  26. United States Clean Air Act.
  27. Code de la Route (French Highway Code).
  28. Codice della Strada (Italian Highway Code), D.Lgs. n. 285/1992.
  29. El Pais, 23 October 2015, p. 46: “Alemania presiona para rebajar los controles de contaminación en los coches”.
  30. El Pais, 4 February 2016, p. 49: “La Eurocámera permite doblar las emisiones en el test de carretera”.
  31. Head of State of Spain, 2000, Law 1/2000 of 7 January 2000 on Civil Proceedings, BOE-A-2000-323.
  32. Head of State of Spain, 1992, Law 21/1992 of 16 July 1992 on Industry, BOE-A-1992-17363.
  33. President of the Republic Italia, Decreto Legislativo of 6 September 2005, no. 206, "Consumer Code, pursuant to Article 7 of Law No 229 of 29 July 2003".
  34. Code de la Consommation, consolidated version of 16 January 2016, Article 423-1ss.
  35. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 13 January 2016, p.19: „Eine Frage der Ethik.“
  36. Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and clean air for Europe, OJ 2008 L 152/1.
  37. Court of Justice of the European Union, 2008, Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 25 July 2008.Dieter Janecek v Freistaat Bayern. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Bundesverwaltungsgericht - Germany. Directive 96/62/EC - Ambient air quality assessment and management - Fixing of limit values - Entitlement of a third party, whose health has been impaired, to have an action plan drawn up (Case C-237/07).
  38. Court of Justice of the European Union, 2014, Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber), 19 November 2014. The Queen, on the application of: ClientEarth v The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.Reference for a preliminary ruling — Environment — Air quality — Directive 2008/50/EC — Limit values for nitrogen dioxide — Obligation to apply for postponement of the deadline by submitting an air quality plan — Penalties (Case C404/13).
  39. European Commission, 2013, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. A Clean Air Programme for Europe COM(2013) 918 final.
  40. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2251 of 26 November 2015 confirming or amending the average specific emission of CO2 and specific emissions targets for manufacturers of passenger cars for the calendar year 2014 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, OJ 2015 L 318/53.
  41. Directive 2003/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on insider dealing and market manipulation (market abuse), OJ 2003 L 96/16.
  42. Wertpapierhandelsgesetz of 9 September 1998, BGBl.1998, I, p. 2708.
  43. Directive 2008/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the protection of the environment through criminal law, OJ 2008 L 328/28.
  44. Strafgesetzbuch / German Criminal Code.
  45. European Commission, 2013, Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff, COM(2013) 718 final.
  46. Court of Justice of the European Union, 2009, Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 24 March 2009.Commission of the European Communities v Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 - Article 18 - Market for detergents and for surfactants for detergents – Sanctions (Case C-184/08).
  47. Court of Justice of the European Union, 2009, Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber) of 14 May 2009. Commission of the European Communities v Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Environment - Decision No 280/2004/EC - Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol - National measures intended to limit and/or reduce greenhouse gas emissions - Failure to communicate the information required (Case C-390/08).
  48. Court of Justice of the European Union, 2006, Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber) of 14 December 2006. Commission of the European Communities v Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Directive 1999/94/EC -New passenger cars - Consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions (Case C-198/06).
  49. Court of Justice of the European Union, 2005, Judgment - 16/06/2005 - Commission v France (Case C-191/04) 
  50. Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), OJ 2012 C 326/13.
  51. European Commission, 2016, Proposal for a regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, COM(2016) 31.