Brussels, 12/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - The high-level group CARS 21 closed its work on Monday, and published a roadmap formulating recommendations for the next 10 years, aiming to make cars clean and safe and to simplify the legal context in which European car-builders are developing. These recommendations are the fruit of a broad consensus between the parties concerned, comprising the world of politics, industry and environmental and consumer organisations, the Commission is pleased to announce. The Commissioner with responsibility for Industry, Günter Verheugen, who chairs this high-level group, which came into being last January (see EUROPE 8937), welcomed the results it obtained: the automotive industry is "essential for the European economy", because it generates around 2% of all wealth in Europe, he stressed, adding: "the recommendations published today will feed into the creation of an active and dynamic automotive industry, which produces and sells clean and safe cars throughout the world". Here are the recommendations made by CARS 21.
Simplification and improvement of the rules: the group recommends that 38 directives are replaced (notably those on brakes, tyres and buses and coaches) with UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) regulations. It also proposes that automatic and virtual controls be brought in for fields covered by 25 directives, instead of tests carried out by a specially-appointed technical authority or tests carried out on vehicles. This simplification effort will help to improve the existing regulatory framework, whilst keeping high levels of environmental protection and road safety in place. The group also proposes principles to improve rule-making, with particular attention given to the quality of the impact analyses carried out on legislative proposals;
Furthering environmental protection: CARS 21 suggests that the Commission submit proposals aiming to reduce emissions of polluting substances by light vehicles and by heavy goods lorries. On the reduction of CO2 emissions by cars, the group believes that the responsibility for reducing these emissions in road transport must not be incumbent solely on the automotive industry. Accordingly, it supports the adoption of an integrated procedure to achieve the objective laid down by the EU, within the context of Kyoto (emissions of 120gr/km). The group has identified a few plans of action to bring down CO2 emissions: improving vehicle technology, using replacement fuels, promoting ecological behaviour, adapting taxation systems, consumer awareness and prevention of obstacles. It also recommends the use of second-generation biofuels (biofuels which can be produced from a broad range of raw material, and offer considerable environmental advantages);
Improving road safety: road safety must also be the target of an integrated procedure involving vehicle technology, infrastructure and road users. More specifically: 1) vehicle technology: the Commission will propose the obligatory application of new safety standards (electronic stability control, non-jamming features for seat belts, assisted braking systems, improved visibility for heavy goods vehicles, compulsory use of vehicle lights in daylight hours); 2) user behaviour: greater emphasis must be laid on cross-border co-operation, allowing drivers from one Member State committing offences in another to be prosecuted, which will be made concrete by a Commission proposal in 2006, and by new efforts to adopt the directive on driving licences;
Improved access to third country markets: in the field of trade, the group feels that benefits must be drawn by the possibilities opened by the Doha development agenda, to improve the competitiveness of the European industry and access to the market of third countries. The group recommends that the Community procedure for multilateral trade be added to by parallel bilateral initiatives. The Union should remain particularly vigilant with regard to the Chinese market, which could compromise the development of European industry (preference granted to national producers, restrictions in terms of investment, etc). The Commission will, therefore, pay close attention to the development of Chinese companies and the respect accorded by China to international rules, and have its rights affirmed before the WTO, if needs be.
"CARS 21 is a model project of the new industrial policy of the Commission. It is not about subsidies or protectionism, but modifying the framework so that the EU can play its game well", concluded Günter Verheugen. In 2006, the Commission will submit proposed follow-ups to the recommendations of CARS 21 and carry out a mid-term review in 2009 to take stock of progress made. EUROPE will return tomorrow to the reactions of interested third-parties (for information, please see: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/automotive/index_en.htm).