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About the Organisers

Organisers

ETRA - The European Twowheel Retailers' Association www.etra-eu.com

ETRA has 3 key objectives: the development of a platform for the transfer of know-how among 2Wheel retailers, lobbying and promotion.

Mobility, environment, public health and sustainability are 4 key issues for the European institutions in setting out the EU policies. ETRA believes that, in this framework, a broad approach is needed to address the challenges, which European cities face: climate change, emissions, air and noise pollution, the quality of life of the citizens, congestion, road safety … Technological progress alone does not offer adequate solutions to these problems.

ETRA advocates an approach that significantly reduces the levels of all private motorised transport in urban areas, via a range of practical and feasible measures, and that increases the proportion of journeys made by 2Wheels as well as on foot and by public transport. The potential for change to sustainable travel in urban areas is huge. This focus on a shift to sustainable transport will not only address policy objectives related to transport but also in areas such as climate change; public health and obesity; social inclusion and community cohesion; and energy security. The fact that 2Wheels can make a crucial contribution to mobility, the environment, public health and sustainability in the European Union is the pillar of ETRA’s activities.

ETRA is the European professional association for independent bicycle, moped and motorcycle retailers. ETRA’s objective is to group these retailers in Europe and to defend and further their interests. The organisation represents some 5,000 companies, which employ approximately 11,500 people in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, ETRA has a large number of associated members. These are international companies/organisations active in the 2Wheel field who believe in ETRA’s work and who have therefore chosen to support that work through their membership.

Forum Europe www.forum-europe.com

Based in Cardiff and with offices in Brussels at the heart of the European Union, Forum Europe specialises in EU focussed political and economic conferences and events. These events are organised with clients and partners and aim to progress ideas and actions on important issues, all within a balanced and neutral setting.

Founded by Giles Merritt, columnist for the International Herald Tribune and former Brussels correspondent at the Financial Times and headed by a team of EU events specialists with over 19 years of experience, Forum Europe’s strategic services can maintain and develop your networks at EU level, and also deliver forums where key issues can be aired and debated.

Forum Europe works successfully with businesses, institutions and governments alike and its expertise, through the medium of events, lies in understanding and interpreting the processes and political issues within the EU.

Partners

UEAPME (The European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) www.ueapme.com

UEAPME is the employer’s organisation representing the interests of European crafts, trades and SMEs at EU level. UEAPME is a recognised European Social Partner and acts on behalf of crafts and SMEs in the European Social Dialogue and in discussions with the EU institutions. It is a non-profit seeking and non-partisan organisation.

As the European SME umbrella organisation, UEAPME incorporates 80 member organisations consisting of national cross-sectorial SME federations, European branch federations and other associate members, which support the SME family.

Across the whole of Europe, UEAPME represents over 12 million enterprises with nearly 55 million employees.

NL EVD International ( The Dutch Agency for International Business and Cooperation) www.hollandtrade.com

NL EVD International is a division of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. It is the central organ of the Dutch government responsible for promoting the international presence of Dutch companies in foreign markets and for supporting private sector development in emerging markets. The organisation provides Dutch companies with information and services critical for the pursuit of new opportunities in all markets. Additionally, it also provides financial support for activities contributing to sustainable private sector development in emerging markets.

Expertise
The division's staff has in-depth knowledge of international markets and is well positioned to bring Dutch companies in contact with international trade experts, decision makers, potential customers and partners in overseas markets.

Through its international network, website and database, NL EVD International - acting closely with the Dutch Diplomatic Missions and Netherlands Business Support Offices - is able to provide useful business leads and contacts. In addition, it supplies detailed information regarding the Dutch economy.

Activities
Each year NL EVD International organizes approximately 60 major international promotional events; for example by participating in trade shows and organizing internal and external trade missions. A central element of these missions is matchmaking; a process via which Dutch enterprises are introduced to others in the European Union and throughout the rest of the world. These activities are often organized in co-operation with Dutch trade and industry associations and are generally focussed on specific economic sectors.

The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament www.greens-efa.eu

The Greens/European Free Alliance is a European parliamentary group made up of Greens and representatives of stateless nations and disadvantaged minorities.

The group was born in July 1999 from the will of two separate and progressive European political families to co-operate in the European Parliament. In their 2009 elections, the Greens/EFA Group grew from 43 to 55 members, and then to 56 when a Portuguese MEP joined the group in June 2011. It is now the fourth group in the European Parliament and the only one with a majority female representation.

These 56 Members – 29 women and 27 men – come from diverse backgrounds. They include members of Green movements (46), representatives of stateless nations (7) and independent members (3). From 2009-2014, it is the task of those elected members to tirelessly promote and vote for the measures that are necessary to deliver the Green’s solution to the triple economic, social and environmental crisis Europe is facing: the Green New Deal. Action is required across the full scope of European policy and law-making to achieve an ambitious commitment to climate protection and a radical transformation of the economy to deliver millions of green jobs.

During this five-year term, the Greens will also promote respect for civil and human rights within and outside Europe, a responsible role for Europe on the world stage, as well as better democracy and accountability of the EU institutions.

Orange Bike Days www.orangebikedays.eu

As part of the theme year 'Smart mobility 2011', the Netherlands Embassy in Brussels, in cooperation with the consulate in Antwerp, organizes the Orange Bike Days, from the 15th till the 25th of September. The representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Belgium wants to make a concrete contribution to a better urban environment in the major Belgian cities. Through various initiatives we will promote cycling as a sustainable, healthy and economical means of transport.

The initiative starts with a two-day seminar in Brussels, the 'ThinkBike Workshop', where Belgian and Dutch mobility-experts will try to find solutions for the mobility problems in the city. In addition, the 'See Bike Expo' will be opened, a collection of extreme and everyday bikemodels, which will tempt and inspire everyone in Belgium to ride the bike. Furthermore, the European TwoWheel Retailers' Organisation (ETRA), will organize a seminar at the Netherlands Embassy in Brussels, during which the Netherlands Cycling Embassy will be opened.

Finally, there are four bike rides organised, in Antwerp, Brussels, Gent and Luxembourg, registration is open for everyone. This site will provide information about this initiative. If you have any further questions, please contact us. Have a look at the site of the theme year 2011 'Smart Mobility' as well, but most of all, do not forget to register yourself for the Orange Bike Day in your city!

European Mobility Week www.mobilityweek.eu

European Mobility Week (EMW) is an annual campaign on sustainable urban mobility, organised by the European Coordination Secretariat with the political and financial support of the Directorates-General for the Environment and Transport of the European Commission.

The aim of the campaign – which runs from 16 to 22 September every year - is to encourage European local authorities to introduce and promote sustainable transport measures and to invite their citizens to try out alternatives to car use. The Week culminates in the ‘In Town Without My Car!’ (ITWMC) event when participating towns and cities set aside one or several areas solely for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport for a whole day.

Since its introduction in 2002, the impact of European Mobility Week has been steadily growing both across Europe and around the world. In 2010, a record number of 2,221 cities, representing approximately 227 million European citizens, officially registered for the campaign. A total of 7,506 permanent measures were implemented, mainly focusing on infrastructure for cycling and walking, traffic calming, improving transport accessibility and raising awareness about sustainable travel behaviour.

Bike Europe www.bike-eu.com

Bike Europe is the leading journal for everyone involved in bike business. With news, market reports, EU laws and regulation, show (p)reviews and much more.