Centre Party leader Annie Lööf was Industry Minister at the time when the letter of EU Commissioner sent to her. Photo: Yvonne Åsell
SvD revealed on Monday evening to then-Industry Minister and current Center leader Annie Lööf in a letter warned by the EU’s former industry commissioner on suspected emissions cheating in the auto industry in 2012. So three years before Volkswagen’s extensive emissions cheating came to light in the United States.
When SvD searched Annie Lööf declined her first comment and contented himself later on Monday evening to send a short written comment, which criticized by, among others, current Industry Minister Mikael Damberg.
– is it that she got information about this systematic cheating but chose not to act and move forward, it is of course serious, said Mikael Damberg told SvD.
Even Anders Wijkman, chairman of the Environmental Advisory Council, believes that Lööf obviously should have acted when she received the letter.
– she must answer the question what she had done against the Swedish automakers and how active she has been in the dialogue at EU level. It is important for confidence in the Swedish and European politicians to clarify what happened, he said.
On Tuesday received SvD finally able to put the question to Annie Lööf.
what were you doing when you got the letter?
– I have no memory of that I have read it. However, we note that it has been registered by the transport unit located under the infrastructure minister, just as the Transport Agency does.
It is addressed to the Minister for Enterprise Annie Lööf and stamped as received by the Minister August 3, 2012?
– I have not seen the letter right now. But it has been the Ministry of Industry announced and when it has come to me to know that the Chief Executive director of the department.
Have you read the letter or not?
– My recollection is that I got it, but because it has been received by the department so it has submitted to me. I have no personal recollection of the letter but I have been informed about it.
The letter was written Thus of the EU’s former industry commissioner Antonio Tajani after he had, among other meeting with a supplier who blew the whistle on cheating with the software to get through the EU’s emission tests. Tajani emphasizes that it is the responsibility of Member States to the EU legislation is complied with and the message of the letter is that he wants some action.
Did you contact the Swedish Transport Agency on the occasion of the suspect cheating?
– Transportation Board were below the then Minister for infrastructure Catharina Elmsäter-Sword. I can not say whether there was any contacts between the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Agency.
Did you contact the Minister for Infrastructure?
– No, not that I can remember.
Did you contact Tajani?
– No, he has sent this to several member countries with vehicle production. He points out the need to complement the existing rules of supervision and control. And it’s very important.
Did you do any checks?
– My co-workers have contacted the Ministry of Industry to ensure how this letter formally handled. In Sweden we can ensure continuously that our vehicle manufacturers live up to the rules that exist.
Did you have contact with the auto industry?
– I’ve had a lot of contact with the automotive industry in all my years as a minister.
But in this matter?
– We had ongoing dialogue about the regulations that Sweden has. What we explicitly did with the letter I find it difficult to answer today.
The letter therefore calls The EU’s former industry commissioner Antonio Tajani for Enterprise Annie Lööf to take steps to ensure that emissions fake and manipulated vehicles are detected.
taken such measures?
– the Commission is putting forward laws on market surveillance, so what Tajani do this is to add the Commission’s task of the individual member States.
Annie Lööf mean Tajani himself had been able to take action.
– this was a general explanation of what the Commissioner had heard and seen of manipulation and he demanding that they should go forward with more tools for control and monitoring. And the Commission is free to introduce such, she says and continues:
– In Sweden, I would say we have a pretty good control.
You say that surveillance is Commission’s task, but at the same time’ve Sweden ongoing monitoring?
– There is a shared responsibility. The Commission has a responsibility to propose laws on checks since Member States must implement. But there are of course a fundamental control in Sweden.
Do you think you took the measures Tajani ask?
– Yes, I think so. The problem comes after the German manufacturer Volkswagen with production in Germany.
He warns well not for Volkswagen – no cheating in the auto industry?
– Yes, exactly .
So what steps were taken?
– We have a continuous monitor that I have said to you now.
it was necessary, therefore, no action?
– we have an order in Sweden that Swedish laws and regulations must be followed and that we follow up on whatever requests we receive from the European Commission.
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