Bikers up in arms at campaign ‘backtrack’

Date: 06/02/1997

FURIOUS motorcyclists have lambasted the European Parliament for apparently backtracking on a promise to support their campaign against proposals to reduce the noise from two-wheeled bikes.

The Federation of European Motorcyclists (FEM) says it is already clear that MEPs will agree to reduce the maximum acceptable level of motorcycle noise from 82 to 80 decibels during conciliation talks with the Council of Ministers.

News of the parliamentary U-turn comes eight months after the noise reduction proposal drawn up by the European Commission was thrown out by 93&percent; of MEPs in a vote during last June's plenary session in Strasbourg.

“The MEPs have totally let us down over this. What is the point of having a European Parliament if nobody pays any attention to what they say? This whole fiasco proves that European democracy does not exist,” said FEM member Simon Milward this week.

Socialist MEP Roger Barton, who is heading the Parliament's team at the conciliation talks which began this week, says he sympathises with the bikers but insists the blame does not rest with him or his colleagues.

“We sat down and worked out a package with the bikers over this, but sadly the Commission and Council did not provide us with all the necessary information,” he said.

Barton claims the Parliament would never have voted against the proposed reduction if it had been aware of Council of Ministers statistics which claim that 68&percent; of motorcycles on sale within the EU already fall within the 80-decibel limit.

“I was briefed that 75&percent; of motorcycles were over 80 decibels,” he complained.

The FEM, which has been consistently praised for the way it has argued its case and won important concessions, is furious that an apparent lack of communication between the European institutions has effectively undone several years of patient lobbying work.

“One moment they nod their heads and agree that the solution to the problem is proper police enforcement, not new legislation. The next moment they no longer want to know us and we are dirty political outcasts again,” said Milward.

Experts also point out that many of the motorcycles which do not meet the proposed new standards are the makes most sought after by enthusiasts.

“Most of the Japanese motorbikes on sale within the Union already respect the norms, but there are other makes which do not, above all Harley Davidsons. If you are passed by one of those on the road, you know about it,” said one noise-reduction expert.

Barton also argues that the whole fiasco shows that the Parliament should reconsider its approach to conciliation talks in areas where it shares decision-making powers with the Council of Ministers.

He feels the institution is often too quick to dive into talks simply as a way of showing off the new powers it was awarded under the Maastricht Treaty, rather than viewing them as a last resort.

“Conciliation talks should aim to reach the best conclusion, they should not be an opportunity for point scoring between the Council and the Parliament. I think that rather than learning to manage conciliation we should be trying to avoid it” he said.