Many countries may face EU prosecution for alleged bias towards the public

According to foreign media reports, after the Volkswagen emissions scandal was exposed, the European Union (EU) decided to sue seven European countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom, for failing to comply with EU automobile emissions regulations and punishing Volkswagen.

Nitrogen oxide pollution from diesel vehicles already exceeds the amount emitted by half of Europe's cars, causing about 72,000 premature deaths and respiratory diseases each year, according to the European Environment Agency.

According to relevant sources within the EU, EU officials have found that some countries have deliberately favored Volkswagen Group, have not imposed fines on it, and have not solved the emission problems in a timely manner.

So far, despite the discovery of cheating software in diesel cars in countries such as Germany, Italy, France and the UK, no country has punished the vehicles in question, and some critics even believe that these countries are colluding with each other. At the same time, it is reported that Germany and the UK were prosecuted mainly because they allowed Volkswagen to test cars and even launch new cars in their countries.

But the EU said: "The problem is not over yet, this is just the first wave of sanctions."

The prosecution is only the first step taken by the EU against these countries, and its member states have two months to respond. If their response within this period fails to satisfy the European Commission, the EU will refer the case to the European Court of Justice.

Under current EU law, although new cars can be sold across borders within the EU, each country has the right to launch new cars or even withdraw the sales license of new cars or impose fines.

Since 2007, EU law has banned the use of cheating software in an engine's tailpipe to make it emit less emissions than it actually does.

However, major European car manufacturers said they were using the software to protect their engines. But regulators in some countries have also criticized loopholes in EU law. European Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska has repeatedly stressed that EU law has clearly prohibited the use of cheating software and called on all member states to always abide by the spirit of EU law.

Taking legal action is only a decision made by the European Commission under pressure from the European Parliament and EU citizens. The EU hopes to use this to show its determination to protect consumers. However, judging from the current situation, the EU still has a long way to go!

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.