The European Parliament has voted in favour of the proposed fifth motor insurance Directive, a move welcomed by the Comité Européen des Assurances (CEA).
The Directive aims to make it easier for drives to get insurance cover and improve protection for victims. The European Commission indicated that it would be able to agree to the six amendments to the directive that had been approved by the European Parliament.
The CEA said it welcomed in particular the increase in the minimum amount of insurance cover, the introduction of a five-year transition period to enable insurers to adapt to the requirements of the Directives, and the exclusion from the Directive of cover for injuries to pedestrians and cyclists.
The CEA said it believed that the cost of legal proceedings should not have been included in the definition of a claim, as it could increase litigiousness in the EU and lead to a rise the cost of claims, resulting in higher premiums.
The proposed Directive will now return to the European Commission for approval by qualified majority vote.
