Transport Minister Martin Kupka: a more decent version of the EURO7 standard was passed in the EP10/11/2023|Press releasesAccording to the rapporteur of the proposal, Czech MEP Alexander Vondra in the ENVI Committee, the plenary session of the European Parliament adopted a position on the EURO 7 standard proposal in a more acceptable form. Next, trialogues and negotiations between the positions of the Council and the EP will be launched that shall lead to the final wording of the Regulation. A total of 329 out of 600 voters were in favour. "I am pleased that the European Parliament has also passed a version of the draft standard that is significantly less strict and follows from what we agreed at the Council of Ministers. It is also good news for the European car industry, which may see it as a boost to its efforts of a realistic transformation of individual transport. The Czech Republic negotiated a more decent form of the standard and, in cooperation with other countries, advocated for the preservation of the availability of individual mobility for all, especially thanks to the availability of small and smaller vehicles," says Transport Minister Martin Kupka. Negotiations between the agreed positions of the Council and the EP will now begin in the so-called trialogues which shall product the final wording of the standard that does not threaten the competitiveness of the European automotive industry. Production of smaller and affordable cars with internal combustion engines can continue. The adopted position of the European Parliament is based on the negotiations of MEP Alexander Vondra. "It is to his credit that the European Parliament, in spite of its habits, today adopted a softer and more realistic position for us," minister Kupka added. The Czech government has been fighting for a more acceptable form of the new emission standard since it was first published. Under the leadership of minister Kupka, a coalition of like-minded countries was formed, which in early June presented a joint position paper calling for a change to the EURO 7 proposal. The demands of the Czech Republic and other countries were reflected in the Council's position, which was approved at the meeting of ministers responsible for competitiveness in September in Brussels. The position of the Czech Republic on major issues remains unchanged for the upcoming negotiations. The most important requirement is still the postponement of the effect dates and their linking to implementing acts. The Czech Republic will also seek a clearer specification and discussion of other parts of the proposal, in particular regarding On-Board-Monitoring, i.e. on-board emission measurement systems, or so-called marginal measurement conditions. These changes were subsequently endorsed by member state ministers at the September Council for competitiveness meeting in Brussels where the Council's general approach was adopted.