European union law

Abstract

The essay describes the evolution of European Union law on vehicle pollution and the measures taken, at European level, in the period before and immediately following the Dieselgate. The scandal, which broke out in the United States, quickly spread worldwide: several doubts have been raised about the efficiency of European institutions and especially the Commission. The Dieselgate has therefore contributed to raise questions regarding the quality of European Union law in the light of environmental protection. The essay deals particularly with the legality of new limits on NOx emissions levels established by Commission Regulation 2016/646 of 20 April 2016 and the introduction of new emission tests to be executed on the road in place of the traditionally laboratory-based tests adopted by car approval authorities. The essay also analyses the work done by the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of European Union law in relation to emission measurements in the automotive sector.