“We’re not adjusting the limit” – Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated her proposal to adapt Germany’s emissions law to prevent diesel driving bans in cities where nitrogen oxide limits are only slightly exceeded. In an interview with public broadcaster hr-iNFO, Merkel said this would not amount to changing the existing EU nitrogen dioxide limit: “We're not adjusting the 40 microgram per cubic metre limit. That applies, that is European law.” The government assumed that with additional measures, such as retrofitting municipal vehicles and introducing software updates, “the limits will generally be reached fast” and driving bans would be a disproportionate measure. Merkel said tax money would be used “as a last resort at most” to support diesel car owners, while the car industry had to be held accountable “as much as possible”. “We are not yet at the end of our negotiations with the automobile industry.” Merkel also said that so far unused funds meant for the government’s e-mobility buyer’s premium could be “reassigned for other forms of mobility”.

Find the interview in German here.

Read the article Fresh Green upset in Hesse state election may derail Merkel government and the factsheet Diesel driving bans in Germany – The Q&A.