Approval of motorbikes, cars and other vehicles
Road transport generates around one-fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions in the EU.
Furthermore, road safety remains a major issue throughout the Union.
However, the standards governing the approval and surveillance of vehicles are regulated in 14 different pieces of EU legislation, making it complicated and difficult to reform.
The Commission decided to simplify the existing legislation and to unify it into a single Regulation, but the announcement of its intention alarmed some bikers in the UK, spurred on by the UK Independence Party (UKIP), a member of the EFD in the European Parliament, who feared that the tuning of their motorbikes was under threat.
What was the Greens' position?
The Greens believe that the codification of rules on road transport vehicles will help to increase road safety and protect both the climate and consumers.
We are arguing in favour of the inclusion of utility vehicles, like SUVs intended for road transport.
We are also calling for electric bicycles to be excluded from the Regulation, so that innovation becomes easier for these vehicles.
In addition, we backed calls to tone down the language on tuning.
At the same time, we are adamant that the new rules should be implemented as quickly as possible, so that no time is lost in the fight against climate change.
Did other MEPs accept the Greens' position?
The Greens succeeded in ensuring that SUVs intended for use on public roads will be included in the Regulation.
Motorbike tuning was largely exempted from the Regulation.
Vehicles' power consumption will be counted in their overall energy footprint so that no indirect climate effects are left out.
Furthermore, we were happy about the compromise reached on durability tests to make sure that cars are built to last.
Which points did the Greens lose?
The Greens were unable to uphold the exemption for electric bicycles.
We also had to agree to Regulation's entry into force being postponed from 2014 to 2016, because the negotiation of this dossier took far longer than expected.
Procedure:Ordinary legislative procedure
Reference(s):2010/0271(COD)
Lead MEP:Wim Van De Camp
Green MEP responsible:Heide Rühle
Voted:
20/11/2012
Staff contact:Claire Kwan(Email)
Outcome of the vote
Below you find the results of the final vote in plenary. How did the political groups vote? What about national delegations? And what was the position of your MEP?