[REPORT]
The European Economic and Social Committee issues recommendations to the European Commission regarding the PTW industry in Europe
EESC underlines the need for
support, flexibility and level playing field
The European Economic and Social Committee, in view of the upcoming proposal for a regulation on the type-approval of powered two-wheelers, calls on the European Commission to set goals which the sector will be able to achieve – phasing in targets which are in sync with design, production and the market.
On 16 July 2009 the European Economic and Social Committee decided to draw up an own-initiative opinion on "Industrial change and prospects for the powered two-wheeler industry in Europe". After carrying out an investigation on the effects of the economic crisis on the PTW sector, the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 4 February 2010 which was subsequently ratified during the plenary session, held on 18 March 2010.
In the document the EESC asks for a series of measures aimed at supporting the powered two-wheeler sector, highly diversified and in which there are a considerable number of SMEs. The sector plays an important role in the EU in terms of the economy and jobs, but it has been hit hard by the crisis, with reductions in demand, turnover and orders and consequently a negative impact on employment. The EESC fears that if policies to support the sector are not developed without delay there may be further, substantial job losses in 2010 and in the long run in Europe.
Against this backdrop, the EESC believes appropriate measures bolstering demand for powered two-wheelers in the Member States are necessary, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to encourage implementation or renewal of these measures in the medium term, particularly as regards vehicles with low environmental impact and advanced safety features.
It also calls on the Commission, when drafting the upcoming proposal for a regulation on powered two-wheelers, to set goals which the sector will be able to achieve – phasing in targets which are in sync with design, production and the market, ensuring flexible solutions for industry and thus a smaller increase in costs for the consumer, and taking into account the economic climate and the wide range of diverse products;
It is the EESC's view that, to ensure a level playing field, greater oversight in respect of type approval and markets is needed, and for free trade agreements between the EU and South-East Asia to be reciprocal, while it calls on the Commission to develop a similar approach to CARS 21 for the powered two-wheeler industry, to support partnership in the industry, competitiveness and jobs.
Furthermore the EESC considers that FP7 can contribute to achieving these goals and calls for a dedicated platform to be set up for the powered two-wheeler industry, supporting businesses which produce in Europe and use the European production chain.
The EESC calls on the industry to pursue restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and to build further cooperation, including with component suppliers, with the aim of maximising all possible synergies, believing that it necessary to develop "social dialogue" in order to boost employment in the sector, establishing European standards for lifelong learning and worker specialisation while, at the same time, helping to reduce insecure employment.
The Commission is called upon to focus extensively on powered two-wheelers in the measures provided for by the Action Plan on Urban Mobility, as powered two-wheelers can undoubtedly contribute to more sustainable mobility.
Download the full document:
Click here to download to the EESC opinion in the assorted official EU languages
[INDEX]
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR RIDERS
IVM'S "LICENSE CHALLENGE 2010"
HONDA'S TO BEGIN SALES OF ELECTIRC SCOOTER
The European Economic and Social Committee represents the various economic and social components of organised civil society. It is an institutional consultative body established by the 1957 Treaty of Rome. Its consultative role enables its members, and hence the organisations they represent, to participate in the Community decision-making process. The Committee has 344 members, who are appointed by the Council of Ministers.
The objective of the EESC is to ensure competitiveness at European level, while stimulating innovation and safeguarding social interests in the current difficult economic and financial context.