EU transport ministers rejected the European Commission's proposal to introduce annual inspections for vehicles older than ten years.

The European Commission's proposal to ease technical checks for vehicles older than ten years has sparked controversy among member states. Transport ministers decided to reject the recommendation to introduce mandatory annual inspections, thus maintaining the current two-year verification interval. This decision was motivated by the desire to avoid additional costs for vehicle owners. Additionally, the ministers accepted other measures, such as additional methods for measuring emissions and standards against odometer tampering.

In the context of the discussions, the Commission highlighted alarming statistics regarding road accidents, with nearly 19,800 deaths in the last year in the EU. There is also discussion about implementing Euro 7 standards, which will bring stricter requirements regarding emissions and technical monitoring, affecting both the automotive industry and costs for consumers. Euro 7 standards will also include requirements for electric vehicles, obliging manufacturers to ensure battery durability and to reduce pollution generated by brake and tire wear. These measures mark an important step in improving safety and environmental protection in European transport.