The European Union opened legal action on Thursday against seven nations including Germany and Britain for failing to police emissions cheating by carmakers after the Volkswagen scandal.
Germany, Britain, Spain and Luxembourg stand accused of not imposing the same kind of penalties VW faced in the United States over its use of illegal software to mask emissions of health-harming nitrogen oxide on tests.
The European Commission, the bloc's executive unit , has further made Germany and Britain to come to account for refusing to share details on breaches of EU emissions laws uncovered in national investigations this year.
The Czech Republic, Lithuania and Greece have been targeted for not even including within national legislation the possibility of fining Europe's biggest industry over potential violations.
This marks first step in what is known as infringement procedures, allowing the EU to ensure the bloc's 28 nations abide by agreed EU-wide regulations.
Member states have two months to respond.
EU Commission- President: Jean-Claude Juncker
- The European Commission is the executive of the European Union.
- It promotes its general interest.
- HQ: Brussels, Belgium.
