ECF has sent its response to the European Commission regarding the public consultation on an Action Plan on Urban Mobility. This Action Plan is foreseen to be published in October 2008.

Among many other, ECF demands the European Commission to implement four concrete actions:

1) Set clear objectives for the modal share of cycling and for cyclists' safety;
2) Appoint a European Bicycle Officer based in the European Commission;
3) Set up a project on "thorough research, data and statistics for cycling policy in Europe";
4) Review the allocation of European resources with a view to improving and increasing cycling in Europe.

The European Cyclists’ Federation is the umbrella federation of the national cyclists’ associations in Europe, reinforced by similar organisations from other parts of the world. Altogether we have 51 member groups, representing over half a million individual European citizens.

 

ECF members gathered in Berne recognise that global climate change is now among the greatest threats to human civilisation: we have joined to issue the following statement..

The ECF Declaration of Berne in French language
To download (Pdf, 59 Kb)

The ECF Declaration of Berne in German language
To download (Pdf, 72 Kb)

The ECF Declaration of Berne in Hungarian language
To download (Pdf, 48 Kb)

The ECF  Declaration of Berne in Italian language
To donload (Pdf, 83 Kb)

The ECF Declaration of Berne in Russian Language
To download (Pdf, 89 Kb)

The ECF  Declaration of Berne in Spanish language
To download (Pdf, 134 Kb)

Urban transport should contribute to the liveability of the European cities. Cycling contributes to the liveability of cities:

 

• Cycling is good for the health of people, safe for other road users. Cyclists don’t pollute, don’t make noise and don’t use a lot of space. It’s most of the time the fastest mode of transport for the short trips in urban areas. In combination with the train, it is also a way of travelling larger distances.
  
  
• Cycling is fun! It’s nice to feel the air in your hair, to choose your own way, travel in your own speed and on the moment you wish. When people do cycle, they improve their health. Cycling is good for your condition, and a nice way of preventing you from suffering obesity and other deceases. For getting there, some things need to be arranged. A bike and you need to know how to ride a bike.
  
  
• The promotion of cycling comprises numerous individual themes, for example political implementation strategy, city planning, transport planning, sustainability, infrastructure, tourism, health, sport and environmental protection.

„The Bicycle Market in Germany has Enormous Growth Potential“
The bicycle, politically and socially, is popular as rarely before. Since almost daily new horror reports on the consequences of climate warming appear in the media the "zero emission vehicle" bicycle is the talk of the town.

Draft Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committeeon the Promotion of cross-border cycle transport.
Exploratory opinion
Rapporteur-general: Mr Simons

 

In a letter dated 7 November 2006, the German Federal Ministry of Transport, in the context of the German EU Presidency, asked the EESC, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to draw up an exploratory opinion on:

 

The promotion of cross-border cycle transport

 

On 21 November 2006 the Committee Bureau instructed the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society to prepare the Committee's work on the subject.

Given the urgent nature of the work, the European Economic and Social Committee appointed Mr Simons as rapporteur-general at its 435th  plenary session, held on 25./26. April 2007 and ... (meeting of 25th April), and adopted the following opinion by 128 votes to 2, with 8 abstentions

 

German version to download:
 070503_EU_grenzueberschreitender_Radverkehr.pdf (84 Kb)

If the current transport trend is not reversed, the European Union will not meet the commitments under the Kyoto-Protocol. That is why the European Greens believe that we must change our ways of getting around, rather than allowing climate to change.

 

More..

The European Commission has adopted the orientation for future transport policy. It looks as if the Commission will mainly focus on making transport greener and has given up on shifting the balance between modes of transport and on trying to push back transport growth. This is a severe change compared with the original White Paper that stated: “Action is needed to bring about a significant decoupling of transport growth and GDP growth, in particular by a shift from road to rail, water and public transport.”

 

Today, transport commissioner Barrot says: “Mobility is essential for free movement of European citizens and economic growth. The EU will continue to boost rail and waterways for long distance connections. We also need to step up our efforts to make road transport and aviation more efficient and greener. That is why I want to focus on logistics, green propulsion and intelligent transport systems which use the latest technologies.”

 

With that, the Commission only takes into account the environmental effects of transport whilst completely ignoring all other negative effects of unbridled transport growth. What’s more, this change of policy is diametrically opposed to the Sustainable Development Strategy which was adopted by the European leaders on 16 June.  That document contains ‘operational objectives and targets’ for sustainable transport in eight areas including climate change, energy use, air and noise pollution. But the Commission’s document, which sets out European transport policy in detail, makes no reference to these objectives and targets, nor does it propose a strategy for how they should be achieved.

 

The only mention of actions to change mobility is to do with transport in urban areas. For that purpose, the Commission announces two initiatives that seem to be sops rather than actions aimed at real change. The Commission intends to publish a Green Paper on urban transport next year and a European road safety day. There is no doubt that the Commission will not get away easily with this U-turn in transport policy.

Mid-term review transport policy

By ETRA and ECF

The EU Council has finally reached unanimity on the prolongation of the reduced VAT rate for labour-intensive services. As a result, member states may continue to apply a minimum of 5% VAT to the services concerned, which include bicycle repairs. That means that Benelux bicycle dealers may go on with 6%, Polish bicycle dealers with 7%.

A very important element in the agreements is that member states, that do not yet make (full) use of the measure, may apply for an authorization until 31 March 2006. Today, 19 member states are in that position, i.e. Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Finland, Sweden, UK, Spain, Portugal, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The reduced rate is now guaranteed until 2010. By the end of June 2007, the Commission has to submit to the Council and the Parliament an overall assessment of the impact of reduced rates, in terms of job creation, economic growth and the internal market. The report has to be based on a study carried out by an independent economic think tank.

Click here for the current VAT rates applied in the EU member states.

By ETRA, ECF

 

L'ECF a lu avec intérêt le Livre Vert préparé par la Commission et se réjouit de l'attention portée au bruit. Contrairement à d'autres pollutions laissant derrière elles des traces tangibles (déchets, eau polluée, fumées noires, poussières), les émissions sonores n'en laissent pas comme tel. Dès la fin de l'émission, le bruit cesse. Il disparaît avec sa cause. Le son est intouchable, inodore, invisible, évanescent. On peut dire qu'il est -paradoxalement- discret. D'où l'absence à ce jour d'une politique d'ensemble en matière de bruit. read more...

The ECF welcomes the European Commission's White Paper "European transport policy for 2010: time to decide". We are pleased that the Commission recognises that the current trends in transport cannot go on as they are and that an integrated transport policy is of crucial importance to the efficient functioning of the economy and to the mobility of the European citizens.