The European Union started legal action on Thursday against seven countries, including Germany and Britain for failing to police emissions test cheating by car makers after the Volkswagen scandal.
Amid mounting frustration in Brussels over what it sees as governments colluding with the powerful car industry, the European Commission is wielding the biggest stick it has.
It is potentially ending it all in court – to try to force nations to clamp down on diesel cars spewing health-harming pollution.
Some German officials say EU law is poorly framed .
They had been sceptical Brussels would take on the EU’s leading power when the unity of the bloc is being challenged by eurosceptics and Britain’s vote to leave.
The VW is by far its biggest car maker.
Thursday’s cases are a sign the EU executive, under pressure from the European Parliament, is keen to prove its worth to voters.
Germany, Britain, Spain and Luxembourg stand accused of not imposing the same kind of penalties Volkswagen (VW) has faced in the United States.
The punishment is meted over its use of illegal software to mask nitrogen oxides (NOx), blamed for respiratory illnesses and early deaths. (Reuters/UDO/IA)