EU countries said to agree to weaker Euro 7 regulation

BRUSSELS — EU countries largely agreed on a compromise proposal presented by Spain for weaker Euro 7 emissions limits, diplomatic sources said on Friday.

The proposal is a watered down version of the initial European Commission pitch to tighten emissions limits for non-CO2 pollutants such carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide from brakes and tires.

Eight EU nations — including France and Italy — have opposed tighter rules, arguing that automakers are already under strain to meet the bloc’s planned ban on sales of new CO2-emitting cars in 2035 to reduce greenhouse gases.

European automakers say Euro 7 — set to come into force from 2025 — is too costly and the environmental gains would be negligible.

Renault CEO Luca de Meo said Euro 7 will distract the auto industry from going all-electric and force automakers to invest in combustion engines that have no future. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has said the proposals would lead to higher prices for smaller vehicles, limiting freedom of movement for poorer households.

The European Union has been progressively tightening road vehicle emission limits since the first set of regulations, known as Euro 1, in 1992.

Final details on the compromise still need to be approved at an EU ministerial meeting on Monday before a final position is ready to be debated with the European Parliament and the Commission.