| activities |
added |
-
- date
- 2007-02-07
- docs
-
- text
PURPOSE: to present a Green Paper on the direction of
future automotive policy.
CONTENT: the Commission presents its position on the
CARS 21 High Level Group which brought together the main
stakeholders (Member States, industry, NGOs and MEPs) in 2005 to
examine the main policy areas impacting the European automotive
industry and to make recommendations for future public policy and
regulatory framework. This Communication outlines the direction of
future automotive policy. In the spirit of better regulation it
aims to promote coherent interaction between different policy
areas, provide predictability and seek the protection of public
interest (e.g. environment and safety) while attempting to reduce
the regulatory burden on industry. The proposals and initiatives
contained in the Communication aim to improve the functioning of
the internal market; simplify automotive legislation and pursue the
internationalisation of the automotive regulatory environment; and
promote environmentally sustainable road transport.
Simplification of the regulatory
environment: in the light of the fact
that the Community has acceded to more than 100 international
vehicle-related regulations adopted under the auspices of the
UN/ECE which are applicable as alternatives to corresponding
Community legislation, the CARS 21 Group recommended that 38
directives could be replaced by UN/ECE Regulations without any loss
in the level of safety and environmental protection. In addition,
it also identified one directive which could be repealed and 25
directives and UN/ECE Regulations in which self-testing and virtual
testing could be introduced so as to reduce regulatory compliance
costs for industry. The Commission supports these recommendations,
but is conscious of the need to maintain the possibility for the EU
to legislate independently from the UN/ECE system where this is
required. The Commission will propose replacing 38 EC
directives with corresponding UN/ECE regulations as soon as the
Framework Directive on type-approval has been adopted, and it will
propose the introduction of necessary technical provisions for
using self testing and virtual testing in 25 EC directives and
UN/ECE regulations.
Environmentally sustainable road
transport:the Communication endorses
the further limiting of pollutant emissions in line with the
Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution. Furthermore, it describes the
key elements of the future Commission strategy to reduce CO2
emissions from cars set out in the Communication on results of the
review of the current Community strategy. The future strategy is
based on an integrated approach to achieving the EU objective of
120 g/km CO2 by 2012 through a combination of EU and Member States
action. The Commission will propose legislation, focusing on
mandatory reductions of the emissions of CO2 to reach the objective
of 130 g/km for the average new car fleet by means of improvements
in vehicle motor technology. This will include setting minimum
efficiency requirements for air-conditioning systems, the
compulsory fitting of accurate tyre pressure monitoring systems,
and setting maximum tyre rolling resistance limits in the EU for
tyres fitted on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The
Commission will propose a reduction of 10 g/km of CO2, or
equivalent if technically necessary, by other technological
improvements and by an increased use of bio-fuels. It will
encourage additional efforts by the Member States (CO2 related
taxation and other fiscal incentives, use of public procurement,
traffic management, infrastructure, etc.) and by the consumers
(informed choice as a buyer, responsible driving behaviour). The
strategy is to be seen in the context of the Commission
Communication on Energy for Europe (see COM(2007)0001).
Road safety: the Commission feels an effective road safety strategy
should be based on the interaction between improvements in vehicle
technology, road infrastructure, driver behaviour and enforcement.
A number of vehicle-related actions are proposed with the inclusion
of the Electronic Stability Controlin new vehicles being the most
significant. Other actions involve making the inclusion of Isofix
child restraint systems obligatory for all new M1 vehicles, and
making the use of daytime running lights obligatory. The
Communication stresses the need to adopt a holistic approach to
road safety involving vehicle features, infrastructure and road
users.
Trade: the Communication aligns the main concerns of the
automotive sector to trade policy. It proposes to assess the
potential of using bi-lateral trade agreements(particularly in the
Asian region) to improve market access and reinforces the need
enforce intellectual property rightsglobally. It will continue
monitoring Chinese business and regulatory developments to ensure
that improved market access resulting from China's WTO accession is
implemented in practice. It will also pursue a formal dialogue with
China on issues related to China's regulatory environment to ensure
that there is a level playing field and legal certainty for the
business community in this market. In this respect, the Commission
will continue to follow the development of the draft Chinese
Anti-Monopoly Law.
Research and development: with approximately € 20 billion (ca. 5% of
the sector's turnover) invested into research and product
development the automotive industry is the largest industrial
R&D investor in Europe in absolute terms. The Communication
identifies clean renewable fuels and intelligent vehicles and roads
as core research priorities. It adopts a forward-looking approach
and outlines the Commission's intention to set up a Joint
Technology Initiative on hydrogen and fuel cellsas well as to put
forward a regulation on vehicles which use hydrogen as a
fuel.
Taxation and fiscal incentives and competition in the
aftermarket: the diverse
vehicle-related taxation regimesin the Member States are considered
to be among the main barriers to an effectively functioning
internal market while the use of fiscal incentives should be
coordinated across the Member States and should demonstrably
contribute to the EU's policy objectives in areas such as the
environment and safety. With regard to the distribution of
vehicles, the Commission will continue its efforts to ensure that
Regulation (EC) No 1400/2002 on motor vehicle
distributionis applied throughout the
Community while in the light of the increasing complexity of
vehicles it has become imperative that all vehicle repairers in the
Community have access to the appropriate technical repair
information.
The Commission will, together with all relevant
stakeholders, conduct a mid-term review of the actions proposed in
the Communication in the course of 2009 to monitor progress made
and, if appropriate, adapt the automotive regulatory policy
framework on the basis of the results of the review It will
regularly inform the co-legislators on the status of changes in
automotive regulations by issuing an annual working paper on
progress made at the UN/ECE.
- title
- COM(2007)0022
- type
- Non-legislative basic document published
- celexid
- CELEX:52007DC0022:EN
- body
- type
- Non-legislative basic document published
-
- date
- 2007-02-07
- docs
-
- text
PURPOSE: to present a Green Paper on the direction of
future automotive policy.
CONTENT: the Commission presents its position on the
CARS 21 High Level Group which brought together the main
stakeholders (Member States, industry, NGOs and MEPs) in 2005 to
examine the main policy areas impacting the European automotive
industry and to make recommendations for future public policy and
regulatory framework. This Communication outlines the direction of
future automotive policy. In the spirit of better regulation it
aims to promote coherent interaction between different policy
areas, provide predictability and seek the protection of public
interest (e.g. environment and safety) while attempting to reduce
the regulatory burden on industry. The proposals and initiatives
contained in the Communication aim to improve the functioning of
the internal market; simplify automotive legislation and pursue the
internationalisation of the automotive regulatory environment; and
promote environmentally sustainable road transport.
Simplification of the regulatory
environment: in the light of the fact
that the Community has acceded to more than 100 international
vehicle-related regulations adopted under the auspices of the
UN/ECE which are applicable as alternatives to corresponding
Community legislation, the CARS 21 Group recommended that 38
directives could be replaced by UN/ECE Regulations without any loss
in the level of safety and environmental protection. In addition,
it also identified one directive which could be repealed and 25
directives and UN/ECE Regulations in which self-testing and virtual
testing could be introduced so as to reduce regulatory compliance
costs for industry. The Commission supports these recommendations,
but is conscious of the need to maintain the possibility for the EU
to legislate independently from the UN/ECE system where this is
required. The Commission will propose replacing 38 EC
directives with corresponding UN/ECE regulations as soon as the
Framework Directive on type-approval has been adopted, and it will
propose the introduction of necessary technical provisions for
using self testing and virtual testing in 25 EC directives and
UN/ECE regulations.
Environmentally sustainable road
transport:the Communication endorses
the further limiting of pollutant emissions in line with the
Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution. Furthermore, it describes the
key elements of the future Commission strategy to reduce CO2
emissions from cars set out in the Communication on results of the
review of the current Community strategy. The future strategy is
based on an integrated approach to achieving the EU objective of
120 g/km CO2 by 2012 through a combination of EU and Member States
action. The Commission will propose legislation, focusing on
mandatory reductions of the emissions of CO2 to reach the objective
of 130 g/km for the average new car fleet by means of improvements
in vehicle motor technology. This will include setting minimum
efficiency requirements for air-conditioning systems, the
compulsory fitting of accurate tyre pressure monitoring systems,
and setting maximum tyre rolling resistance limits in the EU for
tyres fitted on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The
Commission will propose a reduction of 10 g/km of CO2, or
equivalent if technically necessary, by other technological
improvements and by an increased use of bio-fuels. It will
encourage additional efforts by the Member States (CO2 related
taxation and other fiscal incentives, use of public procurement,
traffic management, infrastructure, etc.) and by the consumers
(informed choice as a buyer, responsible driving behaviour). The
strategy is to be seen in the context of the Commission
Communication on Energy for Europe (see COM(2007)0001).
Road safety: the Commission feels an effective road safety strategy
should be based on the interaction between improvements in vehicle
technology, road infrastructure, driver behaviour and enforcement.
A number of vehicle-related actions are proposed with the inclusion
of the Electronic Stability Controlin new vehicles being the most
significant. Other actions involve making the inclusion of Isofix
child restraint systems obligatory for all new M1 vehicles, and
making the use of daytime running lights obligatory. The
Communication stresses the need to adopt a holistic approach to
road safety involving vehicle features, infrastructure and road
users.
Trade: the Communication aligns the main concerns of the
automotive sector to trade policy. It proposes to assess the
potential of using bi-lateral trade agreements(particularly in the
Asian region) to improve market access and reinforces the need
enforce intellectual property rightsglobally. It will continue
monitoring Chinese business and regulatory developments to ensure
that improved market access resulting from China's WTO accession is
implemented in practice. It will also pursue a formal dialogue with
China on issues related to China's regulatory environment to ensure
that there is a level playing field and legal certainty for the
business community in this market. In this respect, the Commission
will continue to follow the development of the draft Chinese
Anti-Monopoly Law.
Research and development: with approximately € 20 billion (ca. 5% of
the sector's turnover) invested into research and product
development the automotive industry is the largest industrial
R&D investor in Europe in absolute terms. The Communication
identifies clean renewable fuels and intelligent vehicles and roads
as core research priorities. It adopts a forward-looking approach
and outlines the Commission's intention to set up a Joint
Technology Initiative on hydrogen and fuel cellsas well as to put
forward a regulation on vehicles which use hydrogen as a
fuel.
Taxation and fiscal incentives and competition in the
aftermarket: the diverse
vehicle-related taxation regimesin the Member States are considered
to be among the main barriers to an effectively functioning
internal market while the use of fiscal incentives should be
coordinated across the Member States and should demonstrably
contribute to the EU's policy objectives in areas such as the
environment and safety. With regard to the distribution of
vehicles, the Commission will continue its efforts to ensure that
Regulation (EC) No 1400/2002 on motor vehicle
distributionis applied throughout the
Community while in the light of the increasing complexity of
vehicles it has become imperative that all vehicle repairers in the
Community have access to the appropriate technical repair
information.
The Commission will, together with all relevant
stakeholders, conduct a mid-term review of the actions proposed in
the Communication in the course of 2009 to monitor progress made
and, if appropriate, adapt the automotive regulatory policy
framework on the basis of the results of the review It will
regularly inform the co-legislators on the status of changes in
automotive regulations by issuing an annual working paper on
progress made at the UN/ECE.
- title
- COM(2007)0022
- type
- Non-legislative basic document
- celexid
- CELEX:52007DC0022:EN
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/sec/2007/0077/COM_SEC(2007)0077_EN.pdf
- title
- SEC(2007)0077
- type
- Document attached to the procedure
- celexid
- CELEX:52007SC0077:EN
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/sec/2007/0078/COM_SEC(2007)0078_EN.pdf
- title
- SEC(2007)0078
- type
- Document attached to the procedure
- celexid
- CELEX:52007SC0078:EN
- body
- EC
- commission
-
- DG
- Enterprise and Industry
- Commissioner
- VERHEUGEN Günter
- type
- Non-legislative basic document
-
- date
- 2007-05-21
- text
The Council held a policy debate on industrial policy.
As regards the automotive industry in particular, it emphasised the
need to formulate the framework conditions for the EU automotive
industry in such a way that it can successfully face up to the
increased competition on the global market. It regards the
recommendations contained in the final report of the CARS 21 High
Level Group as a good starting point for achieving this
objective.
The Council welcomes the Commission's communication on
the CARS 21 report and invites it to implement speedily and
coherently the proposals and initiatives contained therein for
improving the regulatory framework for the EU automotive industry,
once their impact is assessed, so as to achieve as much progress as
possible in implementing them by the time of the interim review in
2009.
The Commission is called upon to give priority to
those proposals and initiatives which can be expected to have the
biggest impact on improving the European regulatory framework for
the automotive industry and, in particular, securing its
international competitiveness also with regard to initiatives in
the areas of environmental protection and road safety. The Council
underlines the significance of a stable, long-term, proportionate,
coherent and consistent regulatory framework for the successful
development of the EU automotive industry and calls on the
Commission to incorporate into Community policies the following
principles: (i) adoption of an integrated approach, which involves
all stakeholders, to developing and implementing measures to tackle
environmental and safety challenges; (ii) legislative measures
regarding the policy towards cars must be formulated on a long-term
and technologically neutral basis; (iii) all relevant stakeholders
are to be consulted at an early stage and extensively on all
initiatives and draft legislation affecting the car sector and the
results are to be appropriately reflected in decision-making; (iv)
thorough impact assessments of all new proposals are to be
submitted at an early stage. The framework conditions for the EU
automotive industry must, as part of a stringent competitiveness
test, also be compared with the framework conditions in major
competing countries; (v) new vehicles should continue to be
accessible to different consumer groups if environmental and safety
improvements are to be achieved through a continuous fleet renewal
process; (vi) the programme for simplification of the regulatory
framework must continue to be implemented speedily, focusing on the
needs of the car sector.
Moreover, the Council supports the Commission's
proposals to reduce the car manufacturers' administrative burden by
replacing EU Directives with UN/ECE Regulations and by introducing
the instrument of self-testing and virtual testing, under strict
surveillance of type-approval authorities. It underlines the
contribution which the Community's financial instruments (e.g. EIB,
Structural Funds) can make to accompany a structural change in the
car sector and requests that they are used in a targeted manner and
in accordance with the prevailing rules of these
instruments.
The Commission is also called upon:
- in the context of bilateral free trade agreements,
to give priority to countries with a high market potential, to
ensure reciprocity, to assess the impacts of such agreements, to
ensure that non-tariff barriers to trade are abolished, to combat
uncompetitive practices in third countries which are detrimental to
the EU automotive industry and to guarantee effective protection of
intellectual property rights;
- in the framework of the 7th research framework
programme, to intensify its efforts to promote innovative and
highly efficient propulsion technologies and systems, alternative
fuels, intelligent and safe motor vehicles and to set the course in
good time for best technologies and for future clean, low-carbon or
carbon-free technologies;
- to come forward with a proposal for Euro VI emission
limit values for heavy-duty vehicles this year at the latest in
order to give the automotive industry sufficient lead time for its
implementation;
- to configure the planned framework for attaining the
target for average CO2 emissions from the fleet of new cars sold in
the EU on the basis of a thorough impact assessment in a way that
is as neutral as possible from the point of view of competition,
and which is socially equitable and sustainable. It should be
framed in such a way as to ensure that all manufacturers continue
efforts to make their whole vehicle production more environmentally
friendly in a cost-effective way.
Lastly, the Council invites the Member States, and
where appropriate, the Commission, in connection with developing a
CO2 strategy in the automotive sector, to examine to what extent,
in addition to the automotive industry's possibilities for CO2
reduction and the potential in the field of biofuels, contributions
by other players both on demand and supply side or via other
measures (e.g. CO2-based vehicle tax and other fiscal measures,
traffic infrastructure and management, driving behaviour, renewal
of the vehicle fleet, stimulation of public transport) can also be
enhanced.
- body
- type
- Resolution/conclusions adopted by Council
-
- date
- 2007-05-21
- body
- CSL
- type
- Council Meeting
- council
- Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry, Research and Space)
- meeting_id
- 2801
-
- date
- 2007-06-06
- body
- EP
- type
- Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
- committees
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- ECON
- date
- 2007-05-22
- committee_full
- Economic and Monetary Affairs
- rapporteur
-
- group
- PSE
- name
- SÁNCHEZ PRESEDO Antolín
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- EMPL
- date
- 2007-02-28
- committee_full
- Employment and Social Affairs
- rapporteur
-
- group
- ALDE
- name
- RAINYTÉ-BODARD Ona
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- ENVI
- date
- 2007-06-08
- committee_full
- Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (Associated committee)
- rapporteur
-
- group
- Verts/ALE
- name
- HARMS Rebecca
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- IMCO
- date
- 2007-06-04
- committee_full
- Internal Market and Consumer Protection
- rapporteur
-
- group
- PPE-DE
- name
- HARBOUR Malcolm
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- INTA
- date
- 2007-04-11
- committee_full
- International Trade
- rapporteur
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- True
- committee
- ITRE
- date
- 2007-04-12
- committee_full
- Industry, Research and Energy (Associated committee)
- rapporteur
-
- group
- ALDE
- name
- CHATZIMARKAKIS Jorgo
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- JURI
- date
- 2007-06-18
- committee_full
- Legal Affairs
- rapporteur
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- TRAN
- date
- 2007-06-04
- committee_full
- Transport and Tourism
- rapporteur
-
- group
- ITS
- name
- ROMAGNOLI Luca
-
- date
- 2007-06-21
- body
- type
- Referral to associated committees announced in Parliament
-
- date
- 2007-07-16
- docs
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE391.934
- type
- Committee draft report
- title
- PE391.934
- body
- EP
- type
- Committee draft report
-
- date
- 2007-11-22
- text
The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted
the own-initiative report by Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS (ALDE, DE)
in response to the Commission communication on a competitive
automotive regulatory framework (CARS 21). The report highlights
the economic importance of the European automotive industry as a
sector producing 19 million vehicles yearly and providing 2.3
million direct jobs and a further 10 million in ancillary sectors.
MEPs in the committee say that, while the industry will have to
undergo substantial change, adjustments in EU policy will also be
needed to ensure regulations do not lead to job losses
Completing the internal market for
cars: the report calls on the Member
State authorities to work closely with the Commission in
implementing the CARS 21 recommendations. It notes, in particular,
the need to ensure that new regulations affecting the automotive
sector are introduced in a coordinated manner, avoiding distortions
in the internal market. It emphasises the need to perfect the EU
system for type-approval, covering all motor vehicles. The
Commission is asked to propose measures guaranteeing a
registration-procedure, which will allow easier cross-border sales
especially for used cars.
A competitive automotive after market:the Commission is called
upon to continue promoting effective competition in the automotive
after-sales market by addressing consumer choice and effective
access for independent market operators to technical information,
training, spare parts, multi-brand diagnostic tools and test
equipment in its future automotive policy. The report urges the
Commission to submit proposals for the creation of an internal
market for custom and tuning parts, such as special tyres, wheels
and other tuning parts and spare parts, as the current diversity of
national regulations obstructs the further development of this
sector, which consequently would benefit from Community harmonising
legislation and appropriate protection of intellectual property.
Efforts are also needed to combat the import of counterfeit spare
parts.
Adopting environmental standards for the 21st
century: the report calls on the
Commission to create an environment that ensures that road
transport is environmentally sustainable. It welcomes the rapid
introduction of the Euro-5 and Euro-6 standards for the reduction
of emissions of pollutants from private cars and urges the
Commission, without delay, to adopt an ambitious proposal for a
EURO-VI standard for heavy goods vehicles. In the context of
Community legislation, MEPs call on the Commission to begin the
process of reassessing and revising emissions testing procedures to
better reflect real life conditions of use, without prejudice to
the ongoing discussion on CO2 emissions from cars.
Reducing CO2 emissions substantially: the report encourages the Commission to consider
developing a common framework for a coordinated application of
technology-neutral and possibly harmonised CO2 related fiscal
incentives that have a significant CO2 reduction potential, while
avoid distortions of competition. It urges the Council to reach an
agreement on the Commission proposal to relate taxes on passenger
cars to their polluting emissions such as CO2 in order to avoid
further internal market fragmentation arising from varying
application by Member States. As the development of new types of
passenger cars takes about five to seven years, MEPs urge the
Commission not to set any final mandatory targets for CO2 emissions
for any date before 2015. From then on, however, an average target
of 125g/km of CO2 emissions for new passenger cars should be
achievable. MEPs consider it crucial in this connection that the
target values should be graduated according to the weight of the
vehicle.
Making road transport even safer: the report highlights that additional security
systems might further increase the weight of passenger cars, thus
leading to increased CO2 emissions. It also expresses concern at
the negative impact on road safety resulting from increases in the
speed of vehicles. The Commission is called upon to: i) improve the
road safety system by requiring Member States to tighten up
learner-driver training requirements, expand compulsory training
and introduce rules providing for the periodic training of
professional drivers; ii) carry out the announced 2007-2009
assessment of the environment required for measures to reduce the
number of road accident victims; iii) develop a system allowing car
manufacturers to without penalty to produce vehicles that emit
extra CO2 if these additional emissions result from legally binding
safety measures taken at Community level; iv) improve the regime
for the cross-border inspection of vehicles and the cross-border
enforcement of fines imposed for the infringement of traffic rules
in a foreign Member State as a matter of priority.
Lastly, the committee does not believe that day time
running lights should be obligatory throughout the EU.
Bringing fair-play to automotive trade
relations: the report states that the
EU automotive industry is one of the most competitive industries in
the world. It believes however that unfair competition and the
infringement of intellectual property rights threaten this
position. The committee recalls that the successful conclusion of
multilateral trade negotiations should remain a priority for the
EU. The Commission is urged, in the framework of the current
EU-Korea FTA negotiations, to make sure that Korea abolishes all
existing tariff and non-tariff barriers and does not create new
ones, and that it will implement more UN/ECE regulations. The
committee requests that the Commission considers a strategy of
phasing out EU import tariffs with safeguards and, therefore,
recommends that this phasing out be connected to the lifting of
non-tariff barriers on the Korean side.
The committee also emphasises the importance of a
close partnership with China in the development of a regulatory
framework offering a level playing field. It states that effective
protection of IPR is a precondition for such a partnership. MEPs
disagree with the Commission's proposal to abolish design
protection rights, as this might have a negative effect on the
automotive sector in the EU while not guaranteeing any customer
benefits. They call on the Commission to respect the existing level
playing-field in relation to Japan and certain US States, where
very high standards are in force.
Research and Development in the automotive
sector: the report calls on the
Commission to adopt before 2012 a strategy to increase
significantly and sufficiently the R&D funding for the
automotive sector, paying particular attention to supply
industries. The committee urges the Member States to make any
increase in future R&D funding for the automotive sector
conditional on the binding nature of the CO2 emission targets.
Member States and the EU institutions are urged to give all
necessary support to the research and development of break-through
technologies, such as hydrogen motors, fuel cells or hybrids. The
committee is of the opinion that the Intelligent Car Initiative,
Galileo and other instruments contributing to an intelligent
transport system are of the utmost importance and therefore calls
on the Commission to strongly support these
developments.
- body
- EP
- committees
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- ECON
- date
- 2007-05-22
- committee_full
- Economic and Monetary Affairs
- rapporteur
-
- group
- PSE
- name
- SÁNCHEZ PRESEDO Antolín
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- EMPL
- date
- 2007-02-28
- committee_full
- Employment and Social Affairs
- rapporteur
-
- group
- ALDE
- name
- RAINYTÉ-BODARD Ona
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- ENVI
- date
- 2007-06-08
- committee_full
- Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (Associated committee)
- rapporteur
-
- group
- Verts/ALE
- name
- HARMS Rebecca
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- IMCO
- date
- 2007-06-04
- committee_full
- Internal Market and Consumer Protection
- rapporteur
-
- group
- PPE-DE
- name
- HARBOUR Malcolm
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- INTA
- date
- 2007-04-11
- committee_full
- International Trade
- rapporteur
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- True
- committee
- ITRE
- date
- 2007-04-12
- committee_full
- Industry, Research and Energy (Associated committee)
- rapporteur
-
- group
- ALDE
- name
- CHATZIMARKAKIS Jorgo
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- JURI
- date
- 2007-06-18
- committee_full
- Legal Affairs
- rapporteur
-
- body
- EP
- responsible
- False
- committee
- TRAN
- date
- 2007-06-04
- committee_full
- Transport and Tourism
- rapporteur
-
- group
- ITS
- name
- ROMAGNOLI Luca
- type
- Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
-
- date
- 2007-12-04
- docs
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-0494&language=EN
- type
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
- title
- A6-0494/2007
- body
- type
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
-
- date
- 2007-12-04
- docs
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2007-0494&language=EN
- type
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
- title
- A6-0494/2007
- body
- EP
- type
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
-
- date
- 2008-01-14
- body
- EP
- type
- Debate in Parliament
-
- date
- 2008-01-15
- docs
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-0007
- text
The European
Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report
drafted by Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS (ALDE, DE) in response to
the Commission communication on a competitive automotive regulatory
framework (CARS 21). The resolution was adopted by 607 votes for,
76 against, and 14 abstentions. It highlighted the economic
importance of the European automotive industry as a sector
producing 19 million vehicles yearly and providing 2.3 million
direct jobs and a further 10 million in ancillary sectors.
Parliament hoped that the parliaments of the Member States and
their regions would wish to be associated with the outcome of the
CARS 21 process, and suggested that an inter-parliamentary network
for the purpose of considering automotive issues.
Completing the
internal market for cars: Parliament called on Member State
authorities to work closely with the Commission in implementing the
CARS 21 recommendations. It noted, in particular, the need to
ensure that new regulations affecting the automotive sector are
introduced in a coordinated manner, avoiding distortions in the
internal market. It emphasised the need to perfect the EU system
for type-approval, covering all motor vehicles. The Commission was
asked to propose measures guaranteeing a registration-procedure,
which will allow easier cross-border sales especially for used
cars.
A competitive
automotive after market: the Commission was called upon to
continue promoting effective competition in the automotive
after-sales market by addressing consumer choice and effective
access for independent market operators to technical information,
training, spare parts, multi-brand diagnostic tools and test
equipment in its future automotive policy. Parliament urged the
Commission to submit proposals for the creation of an internal
market for custom and tuning parts, such as special tyres, wheels
and other tuning parts and spare parts, as the current diversity of
national regulations obstructs the further development of this
sector, which consequently would benefit from Community harmonising
legislation and appropriate protection of intellectual property.
Efforts were also needed to combat the import of counterfeit spare
parts.
Adopting
environmental standards for the 21st century: Parliament
believed that individual mobility and the automotive sector should
be considered in the wider context of sustainable mobility. It felt
that mobility and environmental protection were not necessarily
mutually exclusive and that future car technology would have to
contribute to reconciling the two. Indeed, the challenge of climate
change in particular presented opportunities for technological
advances and innovation. Parliament called on the Commission to
create an environment that ensured that road transport was
environmentally sustainable. It welcomed the rapid introduction of
the Euro-5 and Euro-6 standards for the reduction of emissions of
pollutants from private cars. Parliament stated that improved
air quality could be achieved only by a speedier renewal of the
automobile fleet, in addition to the introduction of less polluting
vehicles, and financial measures needed to be put in place to
induce consumers to replace their old cars with less polluting
vehicles. In the context of Community legislation, MEPs called on
the Commission to begin the process of reassessing and revising
emissions testing procedures to better reflect real life conditions
of use, without prejudice to the ongoing discussion on CO2
emissions from cars.
Reducing CO2
emissions substantially: Parliament welcomed the Commission's
plans to reduce the CO2 emissions of passenger cars. It encouraged
the Commission to consider developing a common framework for a
coordinated application of technology-neutral and possibly
harmonised CO2-related fiscal incentives that had a significant CO2
reduction potential, while avoiding distortions of competition. It
urged the Council to reach an agreement on the Commission proposal
to relate taxes on passenger cars to their polluting emissions such
as CO2 in order to avoid further internal market fragmentation
arising from varying application by Member States. Parliament also
urged the Commission to set ambitious but realistic targets, taking
into account the real situation in the EU market, where the fleet
renewal rate was currently below 10% per annum. The affordability
of new cars played a crucial role in achieving the Community
target. The more ambitious the mandatory targets for CO2 emissions
were, the more time should be granted to the automotive industry to
adapt. As the development of new types of passenger cars
takes about five to seven years, MEPs urged the Commission not to
set any final mandatory targets for CO2 emissions for any date
before 2015. An average target of 125g/km of CO2 emissions for new
passenger cars for 2015 should be achievable. MEPs considered it
crucial in this connection that the target values should be
graduated according to the weight of the vehicle. Parliament noted
the Commission's plan to set a binding agrofuels target and called
for the development of a mandatory certification scheme, applicable
to agrofuels placed on the EU market. The certification criteria
should be designed to ensure a minimum of 50% greenhouse gas
savings over the whole life cycle compared to conventional fuels in
addition to environmental and social criteria.
Making road
transport even safer: Parliament highlighted that additional
security systems might further increase the weight of passenger
cars, thus leading to increased CO2 emissions. It also expressed
concern at the negative impact on road safety resulting from
increases in the speed of vehicles. The Commission was called upon
to: i) improve the road safety system by requiring Member States to
tighten up learner-driver training requirements, expand compulsory
training and introduce rules providing for the periodic training of
professional drivers; ii) carry out the announced 2007-2009
assessment of the environment required for measures to reduce the
number of road accident victims; iii) develop a system allowing car
manufacturers to without penalty to produce vehicles that emit
extra CO2 if these additional emissions result from legally binding
safety measures taken at Community level; iv) improve the regime
for the cross-border inspection of vehicles and the cross-border
enforcement of fines imposed for the infringement of traffic rules
in a foreign Member State as a matter of priority.
Parliament did not
believe that day time running lights should be obligatory
throughout the EU.
Bringing
fair-play to automotive trade relations: whilst the EU
automotive industry was one of the most competitive industries in
the world, unfair competition and the infringement of intellectual
property rights threatened this position. It was important that the
current negotiations in the Doha Development Round made
third-country markets as accessible as possible for automobile
manufacturers, especially potentially large, emerging third-country
markets. Whilst the successful conclusion of multilateral trade
negotiations should remain a priority for the EU, Parliament
nevertheless, supported the Commission's will to negotiate new
bilateral trade agreements, primarily in Asia, in order to improve
market access conditions. The Commission was urged, in the
framework of the current EU-Korea FTA negotiations, to make sure
that Korea abolished all existing tariff and non-tariff barriers
and did not create new ones, and that it would implement more
UN/ECE regulations. The committee requests that the Commission
considers a strategy of phasing out EU import tariffs with
safeguards and, therefore, recommends that this phasing out be
connected to the lifting of non-tariff barriers on the Korean
side.
Parliament also
emphasised the importance of a close partnership with China in the
development of a regulatory framework offering a level playing
field. It stated that effective protection of IPR was a
precondition for such a partnership. It welcomed the Commission's
request for the establishment of a WTO panel to resolve outstanding
issues relating to the treatment of imported vehicle parts by
China, which the Commission argued was inconsistent with several
articles of different WTO agreements.
Research and
Development in the automotive sector: the Commission was asked
to adopt before 2012 a strategy to increase significantly and
sufficiently the R&D funding for the automotive sector, paying
particular attention to supply industries. Member States should
make any increase in future R&D funding for the automotive
sector conditional on the binding nature of the CO2 emission
targets. Member States and the EU institutions were urged to give
all necessary support to the research and development of
break-through technologies, such as hydrogen motors, fuel cells or
hybrids. Parliament felt that the Intelligent Car Initiative,
Galileo and other instruments contributing to an intelligent
transport system were of the utmost importance and therefore called
on the Commission strongly to support these developments.
- type
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
- title
- T6-0007/2008
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=14418&l=en
- type
- Results of vote in Parliament
- title
- Results of vote in Parliament
- body
- EP
- type
- Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
-
- date
- 2008-01-15
- docs
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/spdoc.do?i=14418&j=0&l=en
- type
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary
- title
- SP(2008)1176
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/spdoc.do?i=14418&j=1&l=en
- type
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary
- title
- SP(2008)1340
- body
- EC
- commission
-
- DG
- Enterprise and Industry
- Commissioner
- VERHEUGEN Günter
- type
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary
-
- date
- 2009-03-24
- docs
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/sec/2009/0405/COM_SEC(2009)0405_EN.pdf
- text
The Commission presents a Commission Staff Working
Document on progress during 2008 at the UN Economic Commission for
Europe (UNECE).
In accordance with the CARS 21 Communication of
7 February 2007, this Commission staff working document sets
out the major automotive-related developments that have occurred
during 2008 at the UNECE with a view to informing the European
Parliament, the Council and the public about progress achieved at
UNECE and of the respect observed by the Commission with the
political orientations set out in the relevant Community
legislation. The 2008 staff working document is the second annual
report on these activities.
UNECE was established in 1947 with a view to setting
out norms, standards and conventions to facilitate international
cooperation for various sectors both within and outside the
European region.
2008 was a very productive year at the UNECE. The
establishment of four new global technical regulations (GTRs)
represents considerable progress towards international
harmonisation of vehicle test requirements. Furthermore, the
adoption of 95 technical amendments to UNECE Regulations under the
1958 Agreement will contribute towards the construction of vehicles
meeting the latest technological progress in terms of vehicle
safety and environmental performance.
Where it is appropriate, the technical changes that
have been made at a UNECE level (e.g. Electronic Stability Control)
will be incorporated into EC legislation. Furthermore, and as
demonstrated by the proposed General Safety Regulation, compliance
with the requirements in one or more UNECE Regulations can become
the only option for type-approval.
The resultant close links between EC legislation and
UNECE Regulations will enable European vehicles that have been
manufactured in accordance with UNECE standards to be accepted in
many other countries. As highlighted by the CARS 21 mid-term
report, this regulatory simplification and international
harmonisation is broadly welcomed by all stakeholders and will
ensure that the European automotive industry will remain
competitive around the world.
- type
- Follow-up document
- title
- SEC(2009)0405
- body
- EC
- commission
-
- DG
- Enterprise and Industry
- Commissioner
- VERHEUGEN Günter
- type
- Follow-up document
-
- date
- 2010-05-17
- docs
-
- text
The Commission presents a Commission Staff Working
Document on progress during 2009 at the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE).
In accordance with the CARS 21 Communication of 7
February 2007, this Commission staff working document sets out the
major automotive-related developments that have occurred during
2009 at the UNECE with a view to informing the European Parliament,
the Council and the public about progress achieved at UNECE and of
the respect observed by the Commission with the political
orientations set out in the relevant European Union
legislation.
The 2009 Commission staff working document is the
third annual report on these activities.
To recall, UNECE was established by the United Nations
Economic and Social Council in 1947 in order to promote regional
economic integration through dialogue and cooperation on economic
and sectoral issues. It provides analysis and policy advice to
governments in consultation with key stakeholders and provides a
framework for norms, standards and conventions to facilitate
international cooperation for various sectors. UNECE brings
together 56 countries located in the European Union, non-EU Western
and Eastern Europe, South-East Europe and Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) and North America.
The report states that during 2009 significant
progress on the harmonization of vehicle standards continues to be
achieved through the EU's participation at UNECE. A considerable
proportion of this work is now linked to the important role that
UNECE Regulations will play in the area of motor vehicle safety
through the EU General Safety Regulation. In addition, the UNECE
can also provide the framework for important complementary
measures, such as the defining of test methodologies for vehicle
emissions or, where appropriate, as a first step in taking
additional new measures for type-approval in the EU (e.g., electric
vehicles).
The resultant close links between EU legislation and
UNECE Regulations will mean that European vehicles will be
increasingly manufactured in accordance with UNECE technical
standards. At the same time, the development of common UNECE
standards or test procedures will reduce the development and
deployment costs for manufacturers and regulators / test
laboratories. s highlighted by the CARS 21 mid-term report, this
regulatory simplification and international harmonisation is
welcomed by stakeholders and will ensure that the European
automotive industry remains competitive around the
world.
Lastly, appropriate efforts are being made to
encourage the interest shown in the 1958 and 1998 Agreements by the
emerging economies, particularly those with a significant
automotive manufacturing capability (e.g., India and China). This
should help further to bring about acceptance by the major
economies of the world that the UNECE standards are truly global
standards for the automotive industry.
- type
- Follow-up document
- title
- SEC(2010)0631
- body
- EC
- commission
-
- DG
- Enterprise and Industry
- Commissioner
- VERHEUGEN Günter
- type
- Follow-up document
-
- date
- 2011-05-30
- docs
-
- url
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/sec/2011/0689/COM_SEC(2011)0689_EN.pdf
- text
In accordance with the CARS
21 Communication (COM (2007) 0022), this Commission staff working
document reports on the major automotive-related regulatory
developments and activities that arose during 2010 at the
World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations ("WP.29") of
the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ("UNECE"). Its
objective is to inform the European Parliament, the Council and the
public about the progress achieved by WP.29 and of the compliance
observed by the Commission with regards to the political
orientations set out in the relevant EU legislation. This 2010
Commission staff working document is the fourth annual report on
these activities.
- type
- Follow-up document
- title
- SEC(2011)0689
- body
- EC
- commission
-
- DG
- Enterprise and Industry
- Commissioner
- VERHEUGEN Günter
- type
- Follow-up document
|