WRITTEN QUESTION E-3720/03 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Adapting Directive 97/24/EC to technical progress.
Date: 2003-12-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law, anti-pollution device, approval, technical standard, two-wheeled vehicle

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/635

The Commission when assessing self-regulatory measures initiated by industry intends to take into
account, inter alia, ambition (clear and unambiguous commitments: e.g. quantified targets and well-defined
baselines), representativity (proportion of the market covered), monitoring and reporting mechanisms
(regular, detailed and transparent
identified responsibilities and independent verification,
publicity (the content of the Voluntary Agreement and the regular reports publicised), cost-effective
administration (proportionate administrative burden compared with the objectives and with alternative
policy instruments) as well as compliance with International engagements of the Union: e.g. World Trade
Organisation/Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO/TBT) rules).

reporting)

Concerning harmonised standards, they are adopted by the European Standardisation Bodies and the EuP
proposal foresees (in Article 8) that they may be used for presumption of conformity. The mechanism, by
which the Commission and/or the Member States can object to such use, is described in Article 9 of the
same proposal
the Committee of Directive 98/34/EC for technical regulations and
standards).

(involvement of

Here is a list of voluntary actions relevant in the context of the EuP proposal (and relating mainly to
energy efficiency), and notified to the Commission:

(cid:1) Unilateral self-commitments: (coverage by the signatories beyond 70 % of the Union market):

(cid:1) Standby and ON-mode of cathode ray tube (CRT) Televisions, standby for DVD players, Liquid
Crystal Displays (LCD) and plasma televisions (EICTA, 2003); new targets are under consideration
by the industry for DVDs, LCD and plasma televisions which will include on-mode consumption;

(cid:1) Washing machines (CECED, 2003);

(cid:1) Refrigerators, freezers and their combinations (CECED, 2003);

(cid:1) Standby consumption of Audio equipment (EICTA, 2000);

(cid:1) Dishwashers (CECED, 2000-2001);

(cid:1) Detergents (including Energy saving consumer behaviour washing machines, AISE 1998);

(cid:1) Codes of Conduct (for individual companies, includes quantitative targets):

(cid:1) Digital Television Services (2000);

(cid:1) External Power Supplies (2000).

(1) Directive 98/34/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the

provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations, OJ L 204, 21.7.1998.

(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).

C 78 E/636

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether it is true that the MVEG (Motor Vehicle Emissions Group) did not approve the document

incorporating the Italian proposal until 20 February 2003;

(cid:1) 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;

(cid:1) whether it does not consider that the two- and three-wheeled vehicle sector should be given the same

opportunity as the motor-car sector;

(cid:1) what steps it will take to make up for the delay, which heavily penalises the firms involved;

(cid:1) 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?

(1) OJ L 226, 18.8.1997, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 252, 20.9.2002, p. 20.

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 (1) 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 (2) (amending Directive 97/24/EC (3)).
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) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.