Here we are again, coming to you from Emmex's Brussels offices with yet another podcast.

Today, to quote former Italian Prime Minister, Julian D'Otti, we're dealing with the convergence

of parallel lines.

The Dieselgate scandal has been bubbling away for quite some time now, and we've been covering

it essentially as an energy story.

In other words, what do the emissions cheating devices installed

in Volkswagen cars mean for the EU's environmental policy settings? And Mlex has deliberately

steered clear of the consumer rights angle, much as though it has certainly been part of

the backdrop of our energy reporting. Recently, though, things have started to evolve.

Firstly, Dieselgate appears to be moving beyond Volkswagen,

and secondly, the controversy is now making its way into the realm of antitrust.

An initial investigation by German competition authorities into possible collusion

among car companies and the purchase of steel

now appears to be looking much further afield and this is the chance EU regulators won't want to miss.

Until now the EU hasn't been able to get physical with the Dieselgate affair because it has

been largely a national competence but antitrust is different.

Laurel Henning is a senior energy reporter in Brussels.

Lewis Crofts is our chief global correspondent covering competition policy and enforcement.

Hello both.

Hi, James.

Now, Laurel, let's set the scene from an energy perspective.

The commission has recently become vocal in its dealings

...