Yes it's really fun all around, with EU manufacturers trying to bypass/fudge more stringent US emission regulations and US manufacturers trying to bypass/fudge more stringent EU safety regulations.
I'd take more stringent safety standards over ridiculous emissions standards any day. Though, you could argue stricter safety standards fly in the face of emissions standards. More weight in the car, plus if the occupant survives, their carbon footprint is still there.
People can decide to drive or not drive. Or at least decide to drive less. Kids with asthma and elderly can't decide not to breathe. Although evidently VW was content to effectively encourage them in the direction of not breathing.
The cheating EU cars are emitting 40x the pollution which is why air quality in Europe sucks.
EU cars will be recalled all over the globe for cheating, there are no US recalls because they did not cheat. The EU cars violate EU regulations by cheating. It should be fun for them as it appears to be industry wide and state sanctioned. Maybe they can raise their pollution limits enough that they are not recalled in the EU.