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FEMA - Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations – What’s That Then?
Setting the Scene
To set the scene of FEMA, to confirm what FEMA is about and a review for those that are not as long in the tooth as some of us old codgers (a youthful 47 no less) I have set out below some information on the workings of FEMA.
However first a brief history. In June 1988, national road riding motorcyclists' rights organisations from France, Germany, UK, Austria, Greece, Italy and Luxembourg gathered in Strasbourg to protest against unfair European motorcycle legislation.
Out of this meeting came the decision to form a European organisation to defend and promote the interests of riders, and the Federation of European Motorcyclists (FEM) was born.
On 1st January 1998, FEM and EMA (the European Motorcyclists Association) merged to form the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA).
FEMA is the only European riders’ rights organisation with a permanent presence in Brussels, concentrating its efforts on motorcycle and rider related matters.
Affiliated to FEMA today are 23 national riders' rights organisations from 18 European countries.
The Brussels-based Secretariat, headed by its General Secretary, co-ordinates policies and undertakes lobbying in line with the decisions of the FEMA Committee, which meets three times a year and on which representatives from all affiliates in all European countries participate.
MAG UK was instrumental in setting up FEM, which went on to become the FEMA, as an active member and an organisation with more than 10,000 members we have a seat on both the Executive and Full Committee of FEMA.
Objectives Of The Federation
- To promote, protect and preserve motorcycling.
- To represent and protect the interests of riders.
- To give effect, as far as may be practicable, to the principles from time to time approved by the Federation Committee.
- To promote measures which in the opinion of the Federation encourage safe and responsible road use.
- To oppose all forms of discrimination or measures which unfairly disadvantage riders
- To preserve and extend the freedoms enjoyed by riders.
- To oppose all exploitation of riders.
- To co-operate with and lend aid to riders’ organisations throughout the world whose principles, policies and programme do not conflict with those of the Federation.
- To educate and inform the general public as to the true nature of motorcycling and motorcyclists.
Principles Of The Federation
The Federation is founded on the principle on which the European Union is founded, the principle of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. The Federation rejects discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Those familiar with MAGs constitution will see very close similarities.
The FEMA Executive Committee
- Is made up of the larger National Organisations and three other members elected from three different organisations amongst the other national member organisations.
- The Executive Committee evaluates all questions, comments, proposals and ideas submitted by national member organisations and present the same to the FEMA Full Committee.
- The Executive Committee also has responsibility to: Draft an annual Operational Plan - Draft a budget, in correspondence with the Operational Plan - Draft the Long-term Strategic Plan.
The Committee
- The Committee is the governing authority of the Federation.
- The work of the Federation is under the direction of the Committee which is subject to the constitution of the Federation.
- The committee through its employees – currently a General Secretary Aline Delhaye– Campaign Officer Virginie Peters and Office Administrator Christina Gesios keep the members informed of work, progress and matters in which the Federation is involved.
And not forgetting Bob Tomlins long serving Assistant General Secretary who has recently retired – again.
Officers And Secretariat Of The Federation
- The officers of the Federation includes a President, presently Kees Meijer from the Netherlands. The President ordinarily Chairs FEMA Committee meetings, the position is a voluntary post and the President is elected annually at the FEMA AGM.
- The Secretariat comprises an employed General Secretary and such other individuals (see above) as are from time to time employed by the FEMA Committee.
Hopefully this sets out the organisational aspects of FEMA, its principles and objectives.
It may seem overcomplicated but it has worked for the last ten years. Remember the main language spoken is English, thankfully, and is a compliment to our European colleagues for persevering through some very complicated issues such as the Multi Directive and more recently the Driving Licence Directive and Day Time Running Lights.
You may see from this that MAG UK’s role in FEMA is not just about representing MAG UKs best interests in FEMA regarding riders rights issues but is the running of a Pan European organisation that represents our rights on the issues to, the EU Commission, the EU Parliament/MEPs the United Nations and globally through the International Co-operation Fund.
This fund consists of - The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), the Motorcycle Riders' Foundation (MRF), the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) with the objective of ensuring an efficient representation of motorcyclists at the United Nations where Worldwide Standards for Bikes and road safety measures are developed.
Without an office based in Brussels with FEMA as a “legal” umbrella organisation we could not operate with the EU Institutions. To put it into perspective our fees to FEMA, “buy” us a lot of representation that we could not afford alone.
No piece about FEMA would be complete without mention of Simon Milward.
In 1992 Simon established the Brussels headquarters of the Federation of European Motorcyclists (FEM) in Brussels and became FEM's General Secretary.
Finding his way through the EU maze he started co-ordinating efforts towards specific legislatory targets.
This resulted in bikers being among the first citizens to benefit from the democratic changes of the Maastricht Treaty and due to Simon's never ending work, FEM became a well-known and effective lobby group in the EU institutions.
As mentioned above in 1998 FEM merged with the EMA (the European Motorcyclists Association) to form the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA). Simon Milward became FEMA's General Secretary.
On January 1st 2000 Simon left Europe to fulfil a lifelong dream: to ride his handmade motorcycle around the world on a humanitarian mission.
His journey was supposed to last for 18 months, but it turned into a five year long odyssey. Simon was expected to arrive back in the UK around October 2005.
Sadly Simon passed away following a road accident on the 4th of March 2005 near the city of Kayes in Mali (Africa). Simon was forty years old.
FEMA National Member Organisations:
AMM Spain, MAG Austria, MAG Belgium, CMF Czech Republic, DMC Denmark, NMCU Norway, MCTC Denmark, MP69 Finland, SMOTO Finland, FFMC France, Biker Union Germany, BVDM Germany, Kuhle Wampe Germany, MOT.O.E Greece, MAG Ireland, GAM Portugal, Coordinamento Motociclisti Italy, LMI Luxembourg, MAG Netherlands, SMC Sweden, IG Motorrad Switzerland, BMF, MAG UK.
Observer Organisations
One More Mile Riders, (Turkey)
Find out about FEMA at www.fema.ridersrights.org
Interviews with representatives of FEMA member organisations Here
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