Under the European Green Deal, the Commission committed to present, in 2021, a proposal for more stringent air pollutant emissions standards for combustion-engine vehicles. The latest standards are Euro 6 for light-duty vehicles (cars and vans), and Euro VI for heavy-duty vehicles (trucks, buses and coaches).
The objective of the legislative initiative on post Euro 6/VI standards is to improve air quality, with a particular emphasis on urban areas, by reducing air pollutant emissions from road transport and setting harmonised rules for vehicles. It will also aim to reduce the complexity and compliance costs of the existing Euro 6/VI vehicle emission standards; provide appropriate and up-to-date limits for all air pollutant emissions; and ensure that new vehicles keep their air pollutant emissions under control throughout their entire lifetime and in all conditions of use.
A roadmap was published on 27 March 2020.
In her speech on the State of the Union from 16 September 2020, and the Letter of Intent sent to the President of the European Parliament and the German Presidency of the Council, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the legislative proposal on post-Euro 6/VI emission standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses would be one of the key initiatives to be presented in 2021.
According to the Commission work programme for 2021, published on 19 October 2020, the initiative had to be put forward in the fourth quarter of the year. The provisional timetable of the College of Commissioners indicates that it is currently planned for 20 July 2022.