Brussels, 26/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the Council and European Parliament reached a conciliation committee agreement on the draft directive to reduce emissions from new motor cycles (amendment to directive 97/24/EC). Commissioner Erkki Liikanen also welcomed the agreement that will see up to a 70% reduction in two stages (from 1 April 2003 and from 1 January 2006) of pollution caused by motorbikes, scooters, motorised tricycles and quadricycles.
According to the compromise obtained, emissions ceilings will apply to motorbikes and scooters in the following categories: (vehicles with an engine capacity less than 150 cm3 and more than 150 cm3. For 2-stroke engines, the 2003 stage represents a reduction of some 30% in the emissions limit for carbon monoxide (CO) and 70% in the emission limit for hydrocarbons.
The new directive also includes the following: a number of optional fiscal incentives; controls that ensure that vehicles respect the emission limits; specific demands on ensuring that anti-pollution equipment is working properly; monitoring of new emissions and consummation in the Community strategy for reducing CO2 road transport emissions; provisions in the legislation which are binding on vehicles and oblige old vehicles to adapt accordingly.