EESC Calls for Increased Pollution Controls, Auto Industry Competition
July 21, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
The European Union's European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted two key opinions on the automotive sector at its plenary session on July 15-16:
- The first opinion calls for concrete measures to overcome the persistently high levels of noise and pollutant emissions from road transport.
- The second opinion provides specific recommendations on the need to monitor restructuring developments in the automotive aftermarket sector, as well as to act to safeguard competition and jobs.
"Emissions from road transport: concrete measures to overcome stagnation"
Prepared by rapporteur Edgardo Iozia (Group II, Employees, Italy), this first EESC opinion pointed out that emissions from private, public and goods road transport continue to cause serious illness and erode quality of life, especially for urban populations, representing more than 75% of European citizens.
"The current system of self-certification by the industry and the negotiating of controls at the UN Economic Council for Europe obviously do not deliver the needed improvements for the citizens," said Iozia.
"While tests in laboratory conditions are used to proof compliance with EU emission standards, on-road controls, particularly during use, show that noise and pollutants emissions are considerably higher than those recorded in the cycle tests."
"Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods should also be applied to indirect transport-related emissions: production and transport of fuel, vehicle production, streets and car parks," stressed Iozia.
The EESC recommended that the European Community institutions take immediately steps to strengthen control measures, thereby protecting citizens' health.
"The components and downstream markets of the automotive sector"
This second EESC opinion was prepared by rapporteur Gustav Zöhrer (Group II, Employees, Austria) and his co-rapporteur José Custódio Leirião; it recognized that both vehicle manufacturers and dealers currently face stiffer competition, leading to ever-diminishing profit margins.
The automotive aftermarket consists of approximately 834,700 companies and 4.6 million employees.
"The ongoing restructuring of the aftermarket sector will result in the emergence of a range of new partnerships and new forms of customer relationships. The EESC thus calls the Commission to better monitor restructuring developments on the aftermarket sector closely and act to safeguard fair competition and both the quantity and quality of jobs," said Zöhrer.
"Therefore, the opinion asks to setting up a high-level group which, drawing on the CARS 21 findings, would be responsible for outlining future prospects once the crisis is over."
The EESC underlined that priorities should be set on access to free and fair competition, implementation of the Lisbon strategy, innovation, consumer issues, trade policy and social aspects. Additionally, more consideration should be given to demographic change, the development of lifelong training, and new workplace health and safety requirements.
For more information, read the full text of these EESC opinions.
Source: European Commission (EC).