EU takes Britain to court over car emissions amid VW scandal

The EU has announced legal action against seven nations over the way they handled the policing of car emissions, amid a backlash over the VW diesel scandal.

Officials in Brussels said Germany, Britain, Spain and Luxembourg were accused of not imposing the same kind of penalties VW faced in the United States over its use of illegal software to mask emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) on tests.

The European Commission has also taken further issue with Berlin and London, claiming both refused to share details on breaches of EU emissions laws uncovered in national investigations.

The other nations' actions under the spotlight are the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Greece.

Commissioner for Industry, Elzbieta Bienkowska, said: "National authorities across the EU must ensure that car manufacturers actually comply with the law."

Germany argues EU rules in this area are poorly framed but Brussels insists it is national watchdogs with the power to approve new cars and police them across the 28-nation bloc.

The issue could prompt further criticism of the EU in the UK amid the Brexit vote.

European Union institutions are battling to show voters that it has a value and can deliver solutions to their concerns following a consumer backlash over the VW scandal.

While tougher laws in the US have so far secured financial commitments from VW topping $15bn , the company has consistently refused to pay compensation to owners in the EU - 1.2 million of them in the UK alone.

It has pledged fixes for all vehicles by late next year though consumer groups argue that is pitiful when re-sell valuations and other factors are taken into account.

VW remains the subject of several criminal and regulatory inquiries.

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