European Parliament calls for stronger and more competitive bike industry
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
The European Parliament is pushing the European Commission and Member States to support the production of ‘Made in Europe’ bicycles and components.
The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee has called for an EU Cycling Strategy, covering a safer infrastructure for cyclists to a stronger and more competitive bike industry.
The plan would stimulate ‘the competitiveness of the EU industry, by bridging the investment gap, maintaining a global level playing field, stimulating supply chain reshoring and security, and by encouraging high-quality jobs, the creation of cycling clusters and enhancing industry-related vocational training,’ according to the resolution. Furthermore, MEPs call on the Commission ‘to recognise the cycling industry, including battery manufacturing for e-bikes and the circular economy, in particular SMEs, as legitimate partners in the mobility ecosystem of the EU industrial strategy, and in industrial infrastructure programs and funding schemes.’
The text also recognises the potential of e-bikes in increasing the number of cyclists and underlines the need to give proper legal classification to e-bikes up to 25km/h, in both EU and national legislation. The resolution ‘encourages the Member States to reduce the VAT rates for the supply, rental and repair of bikes and e-bikes.’
“With this vote today in the Transport and Tourism Committee, the European Parliament is one step away from adopting its very first position on cycling and finally asserting that cycling is a transport mode that should be put on equal footing with other modes of transport. Calling for a dedicated European strategy and for the cycling industry to be recognised as a key partner in the European industrial strategy are important steps toward this change of mind-set within our institutions that will have tremendous impacts on the ground,” said the committee’s statement.