The plenary session of the European Parliament has known as for a European technique to encourage using bicycles as a sustainable different to different strategies of every day transport, for instance with a lowered VAT for the rental and restore of conventional and electrical bicycles.
“We encourage Member States to cut back VAT charges for the provision, rental and restore of bicycles and electrical bicycles”, signifies the textual content adopted by the MEPs assembly in Strasbourg (France).
In 2021, Europe produced 13.5 million bicyclesPhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou
The present VAT for the acquisition of bicycles in Spain is 21%. The Treasury rejected a ten% drop in November. In Europe, solely Portugal has because the starting of 2023 a lowered VAT for one of these car, which drops from 23% to six%
This week’s MEP place additionally calls on native and nationwide authorities to direct extra funds in the direction of the development of biking infrastructure separated from the street, whereas encouraging them to assist the manufacturing of “made in Europe” bicycles.
The MEPs ask the European Commission to design a European technique to assist this implies of transport as a sustainable different to different extra polluting ones and since it will translate into an enchancment within the well being of residents, cut back the focus of visitors on the roads and decrease additionally air pollution.
Le Parlement européen veut plus de vélos 💙🚲 !
Fierté d’avoir fait voter une Stratégie européenne du vélo that may double the variety of fits in 2030. To the clé:
✅1 million inexperienced jobs
✅des 🚲 Made in Europe
✅Secured routes/parkings
✅locations on the trains
✅tva reduite pic.twitter.com/SE3TsthFqz
— Karima Delli (@KarimaDelli) February 16, 2023 2024, Year of Bicycle Transportation
In this context, they ask to work to double the variety of kilometers traveled by bike by 2030 and suggest that 2024 be the “European Year of Bicycle Transport”.
Finally, the MEPs warn of the shortage of particular and secure parking areas for bicycles and cycle lanes, whereas calling for extra preventive measures to cut back thefts as a result of they’re one of many predominant obstacles that decelerate the growth of bicycles in European cities. .
The French MEP Karima Delli, who has promoted the decision, has assured that “this technique will flip the bike into a real technique of every day transport, on the identical stage because the automotive or the subway, that’s to say, that the bicycle not solely varieties a part of the leisure and sport, however that it turns into a way of transport in its personal proper, and we wish to make it accessible to everybody.
Up to 13.5 million bicycles have been produced in Europe in 2021, rising by 11% over the earlier 12 months. The largest variety of bicycles produced was registered in Portugal, reaching 2.9 million bicycles, adopted by Romania, with 2.5 million, Italy, reaching 1.9 million, Germany and Poland, with 1.4 million and 1.2 million, respectively.
In 2022, in Spain, the bicycle manufacturing enterprise grew by 2.8%, to 255.8 million euros, 10 million euros greater than in 2021, when it shot up 75.1%. The common value per unit manufactured in 2022 was 724.1 euros, which represents a fall of three.1%. Before the pandemic, the quantity was 548 euros. This determine was produced as a result of historically, Spain has all the time opted for the manufacture of high-end bicycles.