The date: 14/15 September 2001.

The place: Belgium.

The cost: Per ticket - £10 in advance.

The organiser: Theo Beeldens of MAG Belgium, Hero of European Motorcycling.

Please keep this date clear so that we can get the maximum British attendance.

Theo is organising £50 return ferry tickets via Dover that include continental recovery as far as the boat.

Please promote this flat out as MAG Belgium is the key FEMA member in Continental Europe. MAG Belgium deserves our total support.

More information to follow shortly.

Regards,

Neil

The main changes that will affect motorcyclists are the requirements to:

check the emergency engine kill switch (if appropriate), chain and oil levels;

at least two manoeuvres executed at slow speed, including a slalom;

at least two manoeuvres executed at a higher speed, one of which should be in second or third gear of at least 30km/h and one manoeuvre avoiding an obstacle at a minimum speed of 50km/h;

at least two braking exercises, including an emergency brake at a minimum speed of 50km/h.

The Directive allows Member States until 11th October 2005 to implement the changes.

Having participated as observers for one year, the Czech Motorcycle Federation (CMF) has been welcomed as a FEMA member organisation.

With an increasing number of CMF members being road-riding motorcyclists, this was the main reason for CMF to apply for membership of FEMA. CMF is increasingly concerned about road safety and environmental issues due to many problems existing in Czech Republic on these two aspects.

This brings the number of FEMA members to 22 national organisations coming from 17 different countries.

FEMA's President, Erwin Renette, said: "We are always glad to welcome a new organisation into FEMA, especially one that is from the former Eastern Europe. With all these new countries lining up to join the EU, we need representation in those countries also. Once a country joins the EU, it will have an impact on the motorcycling laws in that country. The riders are better off if they have a voice in the EU-institutions. FEMA gives them this voice. They need us as much as we need their support. Welcome CMF!"

The revised Lange report amending a previously supported Commission Proposal on reducing emissions from motorcycles was adopted on 14th February by the European Parliament during the plenary session in Strasbourg.

The directive, as modified by the Parliament, will now be considered by the Council of Ministers for Environment, probably by the end of March. MAG UK has contacting the government on this to ensure the rider's view is heard via the Council of Ministers.

FEMA's position can now be summarised as follows:

- We support cleaner bikes; 50% reduction of emissions in 2000 with a further 50% reduction in 2006, but it is important to know about the appropriate bike test cycle to be able to establish actual precise figures for 2006. (This was the original proposal from the Commission which we were consulted on during drafting)

- We need a test cycle specific to the use and driving pattern of a powered two-wheeler.

- We believe the Parliament has a very "political" position, but that it is not a realistic one. Parliament is trying to put too many things in the same basket at the same time.

- We believe in a step-by-step approach. Let's get the figures down, then consider additional devices and/or measures such as OBD (on-board diagnostics), in-use compliance, etc. These can then be added to the proposed regulations after proper cost-benefit evaluation.

After two years of working with you, I am about to hand over the responsibility of FEMA campaigns officer to Antonio Perlot.

Leaving aside the blabla, it's been a pleasure working with you, although I've had enough of Brussels bureaucrats. It's amazing all the bullshit you have to put up with; the paranoia and cynism you need to develop, and all the manipulating tactics you're constantly faced with, in this highly political environment.

Nothing I want to be part of on a long-term basis!

I wish all the best to the FEMA team and especially to Antonio Perlot, my replacement, who it's been a pleasure to work with these last two weeks. I'm confident that with his gentle personality, keen enthusiasm and professional ability he will be successful in his tasks.

I'm moving back to France in the next few months, after taking a musical break from New Orleans to Memphis and Chicago in March.

Ride Free,

Eric