Members of the European Parliament's Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) adopted, on Monday 5 November, under the simplified procedure and by a very large majority (29 votes in favour, 1 abstention), their position on the revision of the Regulation on the approval and supervision of motor vehicles with a view to leaving the United Kingdom from the EU.
As a reminder, the Commission has presented a revision of the Regulation in view of Brexit. Following 29 March 2019, the European rules for vehicle type-approval will no longer apply in the United Kingdom. As a result, all vehicles, engines and components approved in the United Kingdom will have to obtain certification in one of the 27 Member States in order to access the European internal market.
Due to the simplified procedure, only the amendments of the rapporteur of the text, Marlene Mizzi (S&D, Malta), were put to the vote. It should be noted, however, that the amendments were drafted with the shadow rapporteurs, including Daniel Dalton (ECR, UK), who was rapporteur on the Regulation (see EUROPE 11921).
"Given the current political scenario concerning the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, manufacturers and consumers need certainty where type approvals for vehicles are concerned, to avoid unnecessarily disrupting this important industry. Manufacturers shall now be provided with the required period and legal framework to continue trading within the EU", said Ms Mizzi, explaining that MEPs' primary objective has been to protect consumers and industry and above all European standards. Thus, manufacturers and European type-approval authorities may need new tests if those carried out by the United Kingdom authorities before leaving the United Kingdom are not satisfactory in the light of European safety and environmental rules.
In addition, MEPs clarified the Commission's proposal, particularly during the transition period.
MEPs will be able to start interinstitutional negotiations with the Council, which also adopted its position on 24 October last (see EUROPE 12125). No date has been confirmed yet for the first interinstitutional meeting. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)