WRITTEN QUESTION P-1462/02 by Hans Karlsson (PSE) to the Commission. Interpretation of directives on motorcycles.
Date: 2002-05-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, European standard, approval, consumer protection, environmental protection, interpretation of the law, road safety, technical standard, two-wheeled vehicle

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/215

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

Liechtenstein

Iceland

Norway

EUR-18

275

980

54

500

409

1 868

11

13

42

19 302

(1) Number of documents requested by training bodies.
(2) Not available.

As concerning the type of course, about three quarters of ‘Europass Training’ holders were in education or
training at secondary or upper secondary level; lower and higher levels of education each account for
10-15 % of the cases.

Further findings include the following:

7 the duration of the traineeships abroad varied between 3 and 15 weeks;

7 a slight majority of ‘Europass Training’ holders were women (about 55 %);

7 a strong majority of ‘Europass Training’ holders were between 17 and 23 years old.

A substantial number of European pathways come under the ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ programme, though the
proportion varies considerably from one country to another (30 to 100 %). In some countries bilateral or
national initiatives account for up to 50 % of the European pathways.

(1) The Decision was adopted on 21 December 1998, OJ L 17, 22.1.1999, it entered into force on 1 January 2000.
(2) Report from the Commission to the Parliament and the Council: ‘Report on the implementation of the Decision
1999/51/EC of the Council of 21 December 1998 on the promotion of European pathways in work-linked training,
including apprenticeship’, COM(2002) 214 final.

(2002/C 229 E/247)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1462/02

by Hans Karlsson (PSE) to the Commission

(22 May 2002)

Subject: Interpretation of directives on motorcycles

Problems have arisen in Sweden with the interpretation of directives concerning motorcycles, e.g. 92/61 (1)
and 97/24 (2).

It is reasonable for anyone buying a motorcycle to be able to make certain modifications provided they
have no adverse effect on safety or environmental features. Such changes may be made in order to adjust
the motorcycle to the person’s height, or be a matter of personal
taste concerning characteristics,
appearance and equipment.

In Sweden, the National Road Administration has issued instructions to the effect that vehicles must always
comply 100 % with the requirements of the directives concerned. Directive 97/24, on the other hand,
states that restrictions must be limited to ‘tampering which significantly modifies the vehicle’s performance
and pollutant and noise emissions’. The Swedish Motor Vehicle Inspection Company has also devised its
own interpretation. A letter to its inspection stations states that, in practice, the directives mean that it is
virtually impossible for an individual to make any substantial modifications to a vehicle and subsequently
demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the directives.

C 229 E/216

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

In view of the above, will the Commission say what it means by ‘significantly modifies the vehicle’s
performance’?

If an individual modifies a vehicle, must a new type-approval be carried out?

If an individual modifies a vehicle by changing parts and components, must they be EC-approved or is it
sufficient to fulfil the requirements of the directives?

(1) OJ L 225, 10.8.1992, p. 72.
(2) OJ L 226, 18.8.1997, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(10 June 2002)

Framework Directive 92/61/EEC of 30 June 1992 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel
motor vehicles, and its separate directives, Directive 97/24/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of
17 June 1997 on certain components and characteristics of two or three-wheel motor vehicles being one
of them, contain design and manufacturing requirements for two or three-wheel motor vehicles and
components in order to ensure both the proper functioning of the internal market and a high standard of
road safety and environmental and consumer protection.

To ensure that all types of the above mentioned vehicles and components marketed within the Community
fulfill the requirements of the relevant directives they need to be type-approved by a responsible authority
within one of the Member States.

In instances when a vehicle of a type that has been approved is modified subsequently by the owner or at
the instigation of the owner, it is within the discretion exercised by the national authorities to determine if
the original type-approval certificate is still valid or if a single vehicle approval is necessary.

All vehicles covered by the said directives and put into service within the Community need to be type-
approved according to harmonized Community legislation or national requirements for single or small
series approval.

Directive 97/24/EC contains in its Chapter 7 certain anti-tampering measures for two-wheel mopeds and
motorcycles the aim of which is to prevent, as far as possible, unauthorized modifications which may
prejudice safety,
in particular by increasing vehicle performance and damage the environment. The
purpose of these provisions is both to limit the possibilities for consumers to tamper with their vehicles
and to increase the possibilities for law enforcement authorities to detect tampered vehicles. The Directive
mentions measures concerning restrictions of the interchangability of non-identical parts between vehicles,
modifications in the intake or exhaust system, the engine and/or the motor management. Modifications are
e.g. not acceptable if they lead to an increase of the maximum power of a motorbike of more than 10 % or
to an increase of the maximum speed of a moped by more than 5 kilometers per hour. Furthermore the
maximum design speed or the maximum net engine power for each category concerned may not be
exceeded at all.

(2002/C 229 E/248)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1483/02

by Christopher Beazley (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 May 2002)

Subject: Availability of comparative data on education systems throughout the EU

The Commission stated in its written answer to E-1390/01 (1) regarding comparative assessment of
education systems that the objective of quality assessments is to ‘identify areas within which comparisons
between countries could be made in order to identify good practice, exchange experience and define main
policy challenges’.