The Federation of European Motorcycle Associations  , FEMA, have stated that they oppose the European Commission's safety proposals for motorcycles. According to FEMA, they are well-intentioned but wrong. .. them is fighting words!
On July 20th of this year, the European Commission published their new 10-year Road Safety Action Program (RSAP), with as goal to make roads safer, and to cut road deaths by half when we reach 2020.
On its own, it's a noble cause, but as usual, the politicians and bureaucrats have their own agendas, and they might not coincide with the motorcycle riding public. The new RSAP document makes no reference to recommendations made by the international study groups such as the OECD.
The recommendations made by such organizations were more along the lines of a stronger inclusion of motorcycles and scooters in the country's overall transport policy & management programs. Or for example, more training for car and truck drivers to take motorcycles into account. But instead of making motorcycles a solution to current traffic problems, the Commission decided to rely on expensive solutions, like making ABS mandatory on all motorcycles, updating anti-tampering measures (like that will make a difference to our safety. Just to our pocket books. It also means that you can't put after-market stuff on your bike..) and extending road worthiness testing.
You can read the other recommendations the EC is making by clicking here . It's pie-in-the-sky stuff, our hard earned Euros at work....
The European Commission should wake up, and realize that trying to destroy an industry such as the motorcycle one, by making motorcycles more and more expensive to manufacture and operate, they are going to create 100,000's of unemployed people.
People who are going to be very pissed off with their politicians... 
Click here to read FEMA's position on the EC recommendations (PDF document)
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