April 2005
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
On 16-17 April, FIVA’s Legislation Committee met with FIVA representatives from 16 European countries to discuss European issues. The meeting proved to be an excellent opportunity to:
1. discuss the relevant Brussels regulatory developments
2. learn about regulatory developments in each of the countries represented
3. ensure that by combining information about Brussels and national policy/regulatory developments, FIVA can develop an efficient and effective lobbying ability.
The key message conveyed at the meeting was that information gathered about regulatory initiatives at member state level, combined with a good knowledge of developments in Brussels will help ensure that FIVA is well placed to respond to threats to the preservation and use of historic vehicles presented by draft legislation. To do so, the Legislation Committee will maintain a clear two-way communication – from and to the European national Federations, so that we:
1. know when to act,
2. develop coherent and consistent messages to respond to threats
3. communicate those messages to decision makers in Brussels (Commission officials, Council presidency, Commission MEPs) and in the Member States (Ministers, MEPS, civil servants) using the FIVA network.
Further to last month’s report on the Commission’s proposal to limit PAH in tyres, it was recognised that a cautious approach should be taken on the issue in order to ensure that the proposed Directive could not harm FIVA’s interests. FIVA therefore maintained dialogue with all relevant parties (European Commission, MEPs, Luxembourg Presidency and other interested parties) and as a result, the European Parliament Environment Committee adopted two amendments which will allow tyres manufactured before the implementation date of the Directive (1 January 2009) to be sold after that date, and which exempt historic vehicles from the provisions of the Directive until 2012. This should ensure that those manufacturers which have said that they cannot make low PAH tyres for historic vehicles until 2012 will still be able to continue to do so. The proposal now needs to be considered by the whole EP and then by the Council. In parallel, the European Commission has said that it will support the production date amendment. As with other issues, I am pleased to report that FIVA and its views have been well received by all parties in this debate – and much support for the historic vehicle movement was expressed in the EP Committee.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE
Driving licence discussions continue
The Luxembourg Presidency is taking forward its discussions on the proposal on driving licences and now hopes that agreement can be reached during the June Transport Council meeting. The indication so far is that the Presidency is going to propose that FIVA’s initiative to allow Member States to permit a B licence holder to drive a historic truck or bus for non-commercial purposes be supported by the other member states. Additionally, the Presidency will support the proposal that a B licence holder may drive a vehicle/trailer weight combination of up to 4250 kg.
INFORMATION
EU air quality
A raft of new policies to reduce emissions of acid gases, ammonia and fine particles are expected in a European Commission thematic strategy on air pollution due at the end of June. The Commission is considering radical new approaches to regulating particles - moving away from static air quality standards that impact in pollution hotspots.
Matti Vainio, (who FIVA met in October 2004) has announced that the Commission aims to set new environmental goals for 2020 to underpin next year's revision of the national emission ceilings directive. The Commission has identified three alternative "ambition levels" for capping EU emissions of key air pollutants in 2020. The "medium" level would deliver significant cuts in ozone and particle pollution. Policies under consideration include acid gas trading, vehicle emission standards for light and heavy duty vehicles, transport infrastructure charging, "stage 2" vehicle refuelling, and a review of the scope of the integrated pollution prevention and control Directive. Mr Vainio also confirmed that the Commission plans to switch the focus of EU regulation of particle pollution from the ten micron fraction (PM10) to even smaller - and more health relevant - PM2.5 particles (see above) – but that the current thinking would be that countries would need to reduce average urban background levels by a set amount between 2010 and 2020. Those with higher levels would be expected to deliver a bigger percentage reduction.
Denmark considers a congestion charges
Denmark has become the latest country to move towards introducing road pricing. The Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has announced that he has handed responsibility for any such measures to local authorities. Politicians in Copenhagen, apparently impressed by the success of London's congestion charge, have been keen to introduce a similar system. An official study has predicted that the number of commuters in the Copenhagen area will have increased by 130% over 2000 levels by 2020. According to one study, traffic congestion costs the nation an estimated DKr5.8bn (€780m) annually.
WHO says particle pollution limits "will save billions"
The World Health Organisation has said that European countries will gain very large health and associated financial benefits by controlling fine particle air pollution in line with limits set in a 1999 EU Directive. According to the UN body, particle pollution - especially the finest 2.5 micron fraction - reduces life expectancy across the EU by an average of 8.6 months. It said that implementing the EU limit on particles up to 10 microns (PM10) that entered into full effect in January will save 2.3 months of life – which is apparently the equivalent of preventing 80,000 premature deaths and saving over 1m years of life in the EU. It also put the financial benefits of decreased mortality at between €58bn and €161bn per year, plus €29bn for reduced diseases. The agency's intervention comes amid increasing signs that some EU countries are struggling to comply with the directive- notably Germany.
Germany has difficulty meeting the limits
German environmentalists campaigning to ensure that major German cities comply with EU limits on fine particulate (PM10) air pollution have suffered a legal setback. A Munich administrative court threw out an injunction designed to compel the city's government to impose restrictions on car and truck travel to reduce PM10 levels. Filed by a Munich resident, the injunction was backed by environmental groups, in particular Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH). DUH, which has also taken the city of Berlin to court in a bid to ensure that it respects the EU limits, has stressed that the court rejected the injunction only on a technicality. The group claimed that due to its campaign, the cities of Dortmund and Düsseldorf had already closed their city-centres to lorries and imposed other restrictions on cars.
Germany plans labels for low particle vehicles
Germany's environment ministry has released initial details of a law to introduce a national labelling system for cars and trucks with lower fine particle (PM10) emissions. Future traffic restrictions aimed at curbing particle pollution could be applied purely or mainly to high-emission vehicles not eligible to carry a label.
Italy promotes cleaner moped sales
The Italian government has announced incentives of €250 for buyers of cleaner mopeds. This year, individuals purchasing Euro II standard mopeds - designed to emit no more than 80mg per kilometre (mg/km) of fine particles (PM10) - will get €250 towards the cost. Italy has recently increased taxes on city bus fuels and held car free days to cut urban air pollution.
Sweden to test road-pricing
Sweden is to introduce a seven-month road pricing trial in Stockholm from the new year. The scheme will require motorists to pay SKr10 (€1.09), rising to SKr15-20 during busier periods, when entering or leaving the centre of the capital between 0630 and 1830 on weekdays. The trial will cost SKr 3.3bn to implement and is expected to generate SKr75 million per month. Stockholm residents will vote whether to make the system permanent in a referendum to be held alongside parliamentary elections in September 2006. The road-pricing announcement coincided with the introduction of a three-year experiment in free parking for biogas, ethanol and electric hybrid and other "green" vehicles. The vehicles will also be exempt from the new road charges.
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The FIVA Legislation Commission members are: Geoff Smith, (Chairman); Winfried Kallinger; Svend Aage Tholstrup; Adalberto Gueli; David Davis, Tiddo Bresters, Horst Bruning, Patrick Rollet, and CarlaFiocchi (Secretariat)