In both Denmark and Sweden, permission has been given to establish so-called zero-emission zones. Now the EU will investigate whether these are illegal.
Already from 31 December 2024 – i.e. already this year – the city government in Stockholm will ban all cars with combustion engines in the city centre, which must be converted into a zero-emission zone.
In Denmark, all municipalities have been allowed to introduce one zero-emission zone. But it is not at all certain that it can be done.
Both Sweden and Denmark have to bow to EU legislation. Also in the environmental area. And here the EU will now investigate whether zero-emission zones are legal at all. Or whether they are in breach of the principle of free movement within the union.
This is what the Swedish so-called environmental party 'De Gröna' writes in a press release .
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The law passed by Stockholm bans all passenger cars running on petrol or diesel, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids, in the city centre. For heavy trucks, the plug-in hybrids will continue to be allowed.
That is, as it looks now. The EU must now spend three months finding out whether the strict zero emission requirements in Stockholm are legal.
However, it is not only here in Europe that several countries want to drive drivers out of the cities with increasingly strict requirements for the emissions from the cars.
In the same way, several American states wish to completely ban new diesel and petrol cars in 2035. A ban the EU already adopted last year. But which actually met massive resistance and more demands for a rollback. Read more about it here .
Here at home, a municipality such as Aarhus warns that they are looking into whether they can get away with imposing an extra tax on motorists. A tax that only applies on the municipality's roads.
Conversely, the government on the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca is expected to lift a ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars, which is otherwise due to come into effect shortly. Read more about it here .
Read more exciting news from and about the world of cars right here!