Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-07-02-Speech-1-046"
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"en.20010702.5.1-046"2
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"Mr President, Mr Rothley's own-initiative report is indeed most welcome at this stage in the evolution of the single market. There is no doubt that the Fourth Motor Insurance Directive needs updating after 15 years in force. This period has afforded us sufficient opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the directive in contributing to a genuine single market for motor insurance. It is clear that there are a number of gaps remaining and that the insuree and the claimant still face certain difficulties which need to be addressed.
I thank Mr Rothley for his research in this area and for clearly identifying the areas in which the legal protection of accident victims can be improved. As long as there is room for improvement in this area, it is incumbent on us, as European legislators, to push forward and bring about a better set of conditions. While a certain amount of progress has been made, it is clear that a single insurance market does not yet exist. This deprives consumers of the best that companies across Europe can offer in terms of choice, in terms of flexibility and, of course, price. Motor insurance is a multi-billion euro business and further competition must be encouraged so that consumers can reap the benefits.
One glaring inconsistency in the motor insurance field is in the area of temporary residency. Current rules often place consumers at the mercy of insurance companies. This must stop. I strongly support the notion that citizens who wish to take up temporary residency outside their home country should be allowed to bring their personal motor vehicle without running into financial and administrative obstacles. The freedom to live, work or study abroad must mean just that – freedom – and not hidden barriers. Having to re-insure and re-register can be such hindrances. In my own country we currently have the shortest re-registration period, with only one day allowed. It is frequently difficult for temporary residents to obtain local insurance cover at a reasonable price. A one-year grace period during which the home country insurer would be obliged to continue cover is perfectly reasonable. This would mean one less headache for citizens considering temporary residency in another Member State.
We often hear in this House that European citizens somehow feel far removed from decisions taken at European level, that the issues dealt with are not ones that impinge on their daily lives. It is all the more welcome, therefore, that we in Parliament should take the initiative in matters such as this where we can make a real and tangible contribution to the rights and legal protection of our citizens."@en1
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