Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-04-13-Speech-3-404"
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"en.20050413.25.3-404"2
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".
Mr President, tomorrow we will be approving an amended proposal that will ensure that motor vehicles are designed so that they can be recycled properly at the end of their life cycle. The need to take account of the end of the life cycle when designing new motor vehicles has its origins in the early 1990s, in the Netherlands amongst others, when bilateral agreements were concluded between manufacturers and the authorities. European manufacturers have now gained a huge amount of experience of recycling. The manufacturers estimate the costs of the recycling obligation at an average of EUR 30 per vehicle, but the industry will very quickly recoup these costs. The prices of raw materials are rising explosively, mainly because of the huge demand from China. Rising costs of raw materials are making recycling particularly profitable. With this environmental innovation Europe is also gaining an edge on its competitors, because there are no recycling regulations in either Japan or the United States. Our group can accept the amended proposal and in any event heartily thanks the rapporteur. I would like to offer the apologies of the shadow rapporteur who could not be here this evening.
I would like to take the opportunity today to look at the motor industry in rather broader terms. At the beginning of this year the High Level Group on CARS 21
was set up. The role of this High Level Group is to formulate recommendations for the European motor industry. Above all this is about competitiveness and employment, but also safety and environmental performance. Let me say first that I am a great advocate of the sectoral approach. The Lisbon process must be put into practice within sectors. With the CARS 21 initiative the European Commission is moving in the right direction, but I am afraid that the setting up of the High Level Group at the end of the journey will prove to be nothing more than a deregulation operation for the benefit of the motor industry, the scrapping of tiresome rules in the area of environment and social protection under the guise of improvements in competitiveness. I would therefore urge that we look further ahead and to show more ambition because environment and competitiveness are not inconsistent with one another; on the contrary, they reinforce one another. A branch of industry that constantly achieves better environmental performance improves its worldwide competitive position. I am convinced that environmentally friendly motor vehicles are essential for a viable European motor industry. This is why I have taken the initiative to set up a Low Level Group on Cars. In the spirit of the Lisbon objective employment, competitiveness and a cleaner environment will take centre stage in the Low Level Group. Together with interested fellow Members I shall be drafting a number of recommendations that I shall present to the responsible commissioners and to the High Level Group in July.
Which way should the European motor industry go? The motor sector has gradually made a lot of progress in the area of environment and safety, but is that the right way for the future? I think that we must reflect together in Europe on the motor vehicle of the future. This motor vehicle will in any event be lighter, smaller, more economic and more efficient. It will also be the basis of a modern, competitive and environmentally friendly motor industry. The rising prices of raw materials are making recycling and reuse of materials profitable and the technological progress in this area can contribute greatly to a good competitive position for the European motor industry."@en1
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