08/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – After the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (see EUROPE 12225/23), it was the European Ministers of Economy who gave the green light on Friday 8 November to the agreement reached on 27 March between the European Parliament and the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU on the Regulation on the general safety of vehicles and protection vulnerable users (see EUROPE 12222/21). “These new rules will help us to significantly reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on EU roads. They also strengthen the competitiveness of European car manufacturers in the global market”, said Timo Harakka, Finland’s Minister of Employment. The Regulation shall apply 30 months after its entry into force. However, a longer implementation period is foreseen for a limited number of elements in order to allow car manufacturers to adapt their production to the new requirements. (DG)