Question for written answer E-001693/2017 to the Commission

Ivo Belet (PPE) and Wim van de Camp (PPE)

To improve the air quality in urban environments, more than 225 low-emission zones have already been implemented in 14 European Member States to regulate access by the most-polluting vehicles.

Control takes place through direct police checks on the street or, in many cases, by means of automatic number-plate control.

To create a level playing field, automatic number-plate control also registers foreign number plates. In the case of infringements, information must however be exchanged with the country in question.

Directive 2011/82/EU organises cross-border data exchange in the case of traffic offences, but does not provide a European framework for data exchange with regard to infringements in the scope of low-emission zones. What initiatives can the Commission and Member States take in the short term to facilitate the exchange of data pertaining to infringements in the context of low-emission zones? Within what time frame does the Commission envisage doing so?

Answer given by Ms Bulc on behalf of the Commission (18.5.2017)

The Commission has commissioned a study on Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVAR) which should be completed by summer 2017. One of the topics being examined is "Enforcement of UVAR across Europe", and the Commission will consider further options on the basis of those findings, including how to facilitate the exchange of data in the context of low-emission zones.