Brussels, 05/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Tuesday, the European Commission is organising a hearing on "Pedestrian Protection". This public debate comes within the framework of negotiations between the European Commission and the automobile industry, for the adoption of standards that would render car bonnets less dangerous for pedestrians in case of accident.
Last December, the Commission had given the automobile industry six months to reach a "negotiated agreement", otherwise it would adopt binding standards in June (see EUROPE of 23 December, p.8). Discussions have so far stalled on the issue of "tests" used to validate the design of bonnets, the automobile industry disputing the EEVC tests used these past few years. The Commission continues to prefer the option of an immediately applicable negotiated agreement, but on condition "that this agreement has an ambitious content", the spokesperson for Commissioner Erkki Liikanen stipulates.
The hearing is bringing together members of the European Parliament, experts from Member States and other interested parties, including automobile manufacturers (who want a negotiated agreement) and consumer representatives (pleading for binding standards).