October 4, 2024 - (Brussels, BEL) Cycling as a lever for economic growth was the key message of the CIE 2024 Summit on October 2, organized by Cycling Industries Europe in partnership with the Benelux Union. Heeding the EU Declaration on Cycling’s call for the ‘development of a world class cycling industry’, policymakers, industry leaders, and cycling experts gave an audience of over 200 attendees a blueprint for cycling industry policies and acclaimed the Benelux Union’s offer to be the ‘living laboratory’ for cycling industry stimulation policies of the future.
High level keynote speakers set the tone for the day, placing cycling at the highest level of EU policy. Tony Grimaldi, President of Cycling Industries Europe (CIE), and Georges Gilkinet, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mobility, led with calls for action: Grimaldi said “Every cyclist is an economic success story. Invest just 10% of transport and industry budgets in cycling, and we will be your very best investment. We hear words about better mobility—now it’s time to see this reflected in budgets. Policies must become actions.” He was echoed by Gilkinet: “We are all here today to promote cycling as a key part of tomorrow’s mobility. Since the European Declaration on Cycling, it’s no longer a question of if the European Commission will act on cycling—it’s a question of when.”
The EU Commission senior leadership was represented by both its industry and mobility directorates, responding that partnerships with industry are essential to their policies. Kerstin Jorna, Director General of DG GROW, spoke about the cycling industry’s pivotal role: “I discovered that the cycling industry is a job creation machine. Cycling Industries Europe has been an invaluable partner in our work on the EU’s Mobility Transition Pathway, and we’ve seen an outstanding response from the cycling industry to this initiative.” while Eddy Liégeois, Acting Director of DG MOVE’s Transport Networks unit, highlighted the industry’s significance: “The EU cycling industry supports over 1 million jobs, many of which are local, and is a global leader in bike sharing. To strengthen this ecosystem, we need better data, more collaboration, and for cities to prioritize cycling infrastructure through Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans.
The BENELUX Union reflected the call for action and offered the prospect of Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg working with industry to create a multinational industrial strategy for cycling across the Union. “Cycling plays a key role in the mobility transition, and Benelux has the experience to take the lead again”, announced Benelux Union Secretary General Frans Weekers. “The Benelux Union aims to build on its existing cycling policy roadmap and leverage its unique position to experiment with and scale successful models in collaboration with industry representatives. He gave the example of extending existing collaborations between public bodies, police and industry in the challenging area of cross border theft.”
Supporting this vision, KU Leuven’s Professor Rosanne Vanpée presented the example of a recently completed study highlighting that the Belgian cycling economy is growing much faster than Belgian GDP: “In 2022, the Belgian bicycle industry generated almost a billion euros in net added value and employed more than 17,000 full-time workers. This shows that since 2015 Belgium’s cycling economy has outgrown GDP by a factor of 2,5.”
This inspiration saw global cycling companies and trade associations representing hundreds of businesses join the Benelux Union team on stage to commit their support for a Benelux Union industrial strategy for cycling. The outstanding level of support acted as kick off for a process that will gain momentum in coming months.
To inform the strategic priorities for industrial collaboration the Summit was guided by expert panels brought together experts from government, the EU Parliament academia, agencies and industry leaders. Industry executives taking the microphone included Maxim Romain (Dott), Mikko Ampuja (Vapaus), Herman Van Beveren (Decathlon International), Jan-Willem Boezel (Van Raam), René Wiertz (Fundracer BV Investor), Christian Krug (Jobrad), Christophe Impens (Golazo), engaging in lively exchanges with Prof. Dr. Meredith Glaser (UGent), Filip Boelaert (Flemish Government), Adriana Diaz (EIT Urban Mobility), Lidia Pereira (Member of the European Parliament), Jan Molema (Benelux Union), Rosanne Vanpée (KU Leuven). The proceedings were expertly moderated by Zuzana Púčiková (Acumen Public Affairs) and Michelle Smith (International Sports & Cycling, World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry).
In closing the event partners Tony Grimaldi for CIE and Michel-Etienne Tilemans for Benelux Union welcomed the emphasis on partnership to deliver actions that reflected the potential in the industry and the strengths of the Benelux Union.
About CIE
Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) is the voice of cycling business in Europe. CIE brings together leading companies and experts from across the globe representing the entire supply chain from bicycle and parts makers to bike sharing, cycle logistics, online services, financial services infrastructure, tourism and consultancy. For more information see www.cyclingindustries.com
Benelux Union
The CIE 2024 Summit was organised in partnership with the Benelux Union. Today’s Benelux Union is the result of a long history of cooperation between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. What started in 1944 as a customs union became the Benelux Economic Union in 1958. Fifty years down the line, the political leaders of the three countries — keenly aware of the importance of continuing and intensifying intergovernmental cooperation — decided to sign a new Benelux Treaty, which remains in force today.
