BRUSSELS, Belgium – Yesterday afternoon the European Parliament voted on the new type approval legislation on two- and three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles. The Parliament decided to keep the original European Commission proposal: only pedelecs with a maximum speed of 25 km/h and 250 watts power will remain exempt from motorbike regulation.
— Read on www.bike-eu.com/8870/eu-vote-limits-pedelecs-to-250-watt

if you ever wondered why such low power and speed, here’s an explanation of earliest incidence of regulation. Of course, this begs the question was it:

Faceless bureaucrat?

Or obstruction by car lobby?

Or big bike manufacturers not wanting any challenge?