Brussels, 11/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has confirmed that in future only two-wheeled vehicles of a certain engine size will have to undergo compulsory periodic technical inspections. This provision is part of the “technical inspections” package - the trialogue agreement on which was confirmed by MEPs on Tuesday 11 March.
The plank of this package on compulsory technical inspections was adopted on the basis of the report by Werner Kuhn (EPP, Germany) by 557 votes in favour, 81 against and 43 abstentions. The new rules stipulate that from 2022, all two- and three-wheeled vehicles (motorcycles and scooters) with an engine size of greater than 125 cc and of more than four years in age must undergo technical inspections every two years. The European Commission's initial text has been watered down, as Commission wanted all two- and three-wheeled vehicles to be tested annually. Stricter national laws can be kept in place. Another plank of the package provides that from 2019, at least 5% of commercial vehicles in Europe will be stopped for roadside inspections, particularly those belonging to companies deemed to be at risk, in order to reduce the administrative burden for companies complying with the rules. Training for inspectors and their inspection criteria were harmonised in the report by Olga Sehnalova (S&D, Czech Republic), which was adopted by 646 votes in favour, 25 against and 14 abstentions. Lastly, the report by Vilja Savisaar-Toomast (ALDE, Estonia) aims to simplify vehicle registration from one state to another, by means of mutual recognition. It was adopted by 655 votes in favour, 24 against and 7 abstentions. (MD)