Currently reading: Italy faces EU legal action over Fiat Chrysler emissions case

Italian government is accused of not properly enforcing regulations

The European Union (EU) has opened legal proceedings against the Italian government for not properly responding to allegations that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) cheated emissions tests.

Italian regulators are being accused of not testing FCA vehicles after it was found some models could feature defeat devices, like those used by Volkswagen in its emissions scandal case.

FCA hasn’t formally been prosecuted for any wrongdoing, but the EU believes Italian regulators have been slow to act.

This comes after authorities claimed that the Italian transport department negated to test FCA models during a period of retesting, where cars from other manufacturers were analysed.

In an official statement, the European Commission said "[We] are now formally asking Italy to respond to its concerns that the manufacturer has not sufficiently justified the technical necessity – and thus the legality – of the defeat device used.”

The Italian Government has two months to respond to the request. If it fails to do so, it could face legal action from the EU.

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xxxx 18 May 2017

Fair

Will the EU be on the side of the consumer/enviromentatists and tough (sarcasstic tone) like they were on the German VW company? Thought not
Scoobman 17 May 2017

Hold on a Moment...

I'm no lover of the EU, but there is a set of regulations here which apply to all vehicles sold in Europe. Those regulations have been implemented in order to ensure that vehicles don't exceed emissions levels that are considered to be harmful, and to enable vehicles to be taxed on the basis of emissions bands. Regulators in each country must enforce the same regulations otherwise you will get the situation that one vehicle manufacturer (say, Fiat) is able to sell their cars without expensive emission control equipment more cheaply than another manufacturer because their home regulator (say, Italy) gave it a better rating than was justified.

Surely manipulation of the market by a home regulator deserves a financial penalty on the government of that country to make future manipulation less likely.If you have a set of rules, there have to be consequences for breaking them.

Ralf S. 24 May 2017

The complaint is that the

The complaint is that the Italian government has not investigated promptly enough or in enough detail.

If they had investigated, found evidence of widespread cheating and excessive pollution/cars in the wrong tax bracket... and then not done anything at all about it, nor fined the manufacturer then they would be; a) Not in trouble and b) Just like Germany has done with VW.. :D

Ralf S.

GODFATHER 17 May 2017

What about Germany?

It was Volkswagen and the Germans that WERE caught cheating so why are they not also being sued for damage to environment and recklessness. Just goes to show who runs the EU and for whose best interest. Sooner Britain leaves the better.