EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/635

(2004/C 78 E/0671)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3720/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Adapting Directive 97/24/EC to technical progress

On the basis of the above directive catalytic exhaust systems are now no long the firms manufacturing them from obtaining type-approval for exhausts and means that the vehicle manufacturer acquires the monopoly for type-approval. This situation in the motor-car industry was settled in two years by adapting the basic directive to technical progress. In 2000 the Italian Government requested that a similar procedure be launched for two and three-wheeled vehicles, proposing the same formula as for the adaptation of Directive 97/24/EC (1).

Can the Commission say:

— whether it is true that the MVEG (Motor Vehicle Emissions Group) did not approve the document incorporating the Italian proposal until 20 February 2003;

— why the MVEG proposal was tacked onto the package of amendments to Directive 2002/51/EC (2) on Euro 3 rather than being forwarded immediately to the CATP for swift adoption;

— whether it does not consider that the two- and three-wheeled vehicle sector should be given the same opportunity as the motor-car sector;

— what steps it will take to make up for the delay, which heavily penalises the firms involved;

— by what date it expects to be able to make up for the delay in order to satisfy the firms put at a disadvantage by the type-approval monopoly?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 2004)

The Motor Vehicle Emission Group (MVEG) is a consultative group in which the Commission normally discusses with stakeholders subjects relevant to the control of emissions from motor vehicles before it undertakes the finalisation of any legal proposal in this field.

When the Italian delegation first made its proposal concerning replacement catalysts the Commission, in the motorcycle sub-group of MVEG, did comment that it may be possible to deal with the subject of replacement catalytic converters for two and three wheel vehicles through the regulatory committee (CATP). However, the Commission had to subsequently take into account the result of an earlier proposal to make a similar amendment to Directive 70/220/EEC (3) through the comitology process which had to be cancelled since the Parliament found that such a proposal would be beyond the remit of comitology.

The Commission is presently working on a very large package of amendments with respect to motorcycle emissions through reference to Articles 5-8 of Directive 2001/51/EC (4) (amending Directive 97/24/EC (5)). Consequently, the Commission decided to add the proposal on replacement catalytic converters for two and three wheel vehicles to this package of amendments which will be presented to the Council and Parliament during the first half of 2004.

The Commission agrees that manufacturers of replacement catalytic converters for two and three wheeled vehicles ought to enjoy the same opportunities as manufacturers of replacement catalytic converters for motor cars.

(1) OJ L 226, 18.8.1997, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 252, 20.9.2002, p. 20.

(3) Council Directive 70/220/EEC of 20 March 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by gases from positive-ignition engines of motor vehicles, OJ 76, 6.4.1970.

(4) Directive 2001/51/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 July 2002 on the reduction of the level of pollutant emissions from two- and three-wheel motor vehicles and amending Directive 97/24/EC, OJ L 252, 20.9.2002, p. 20.

(5) Directive 97/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 1997 on certain components and characteristics of two or three-wheel motor vehicles, OJ L 226, 18.8.1997, p. 1.