Kris Van Dijck, a Belgian MEP from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, has asked the European Commission to confirm that Member States retain the right to maintain or introduce national roadworthiness tests that go beyond EU minimum standards, amid ongoing negotiations to revise the roadworthiness package. The question, tabled on 2 July 2026, seeks to protect national discretion in vehicle safety testing, which could affect vehicle owners, testing centres, and national transport authorities.
The written parliamentary question references Directive 2014/45/EU, which sets minimum requirements for periodic roadworthiness tests. Van Dijck points out that the directive explicitly allows Member States to require additional tests in specific cases, such as vehicle ownership transfer, high mileage, or increased safety risk. He asks the Commission to confirm that the directive does not force Member States to lower existing stricter national measures, and that they are free to adopt or retain additional safety tests as long as they are compatible with EU law.
The MEP also seeks clarification on whether a future revision of the roadworthiness package could impose new obligations requiring transposition or amendment of national regulations. This reflects concerns that the ongoing negotiations, which focus on updating testing requirements for electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems, might inadvertently limit Member States' flexibility to set higher safety standards.
a confirmation of legal interpretation and a clarification on future legislative impact. It signals a policy orientation favouring national sovereignty and regulatory diversity over harmonisation, with potential implications for road safety and the automotive industry. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will indicate whether it shares the MEP's view or leans toward more uniform EU rules.