18. 8. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities 1 I (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DIRECTIVE 97/24/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 June 1997 on certain components and characteristics of two or three-wheel motor vehicles THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof, ) Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (*), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (*), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (°) in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 4 February 1997, 30 June 1992 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel vehicles (*) to be implemented in respect of each type of the aforesaid vehicles; Whereas, in order to facilitate access to markets in third countries, it appears necessary to establish equivalence between the requirements of Chapters 1 (tyres), 2 (lighting and light-signalling devices), 4 (rear-view mirrors) and 11 (safety belts) of the Annex to this Directive and those of United Nations ECE Regulations Nos 30, 54, 64 and 75 in respect of tyres, 3, 19, 20, 37, 38, 50, 56, 57, 72 and 82 in respect of lighting and light-signalling devices, 81 in respect of rear-view mirrors and 16 in respect of safety belts; (1) Whereas it is necessary to adopt measures that are (5) Whereas, with regard to the aspects concerning the intended to ensure the operation of the internal market; (2) Whereas, in each Member State, two or three-wheel motor vehicles must, in respect of the components and characteristics covered by this Directive, satisfy certain mandatory technical requirements which differ from one Member State to another; whereas, owing to those differences, such requirements constitute barriers to trade within the Community; whereas those barriers to the operation of the internal market may be removed if the same requirements are adopted by all of the Member States in place of their national regulations; (3) Whereas the drawing-up of  harmonized requirements concerning those components and characteristics of two and three-wheel motor vehicles is necessary in order to enable the type- approval and component type-approval procedures covered by Council Directive 92/61/EEC of (") O] No C 177, 29. 6. 1994, p. 1, and O] No C 21, 25. 1. 1996, p. 23. (*) OJ No C 195, 18. 7. 1994, p. 77. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 18 May 1995 (O] No C 151, 19. 6. 1995, p. 184), common position of the Council of 23 November 1995 (O] No C 190, 29. 6. 1996, p- 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 19{lune 1996 (O] No C 198, 9. 7. 1996, p. 23). Decision of the European Parliament of 24 April 1997; Council Decision of protection of the environment, namely atmospheric and noise pollution, it is necessary to pursue the aim of constantly improving the environment; whereas, for this purpose, limit values for pollutants and sound level must be laid down for the fastest possible application; whereas subsequent reductions in the limit values and changes in the testing procedure may be decided upon only on the basis of studies and research to be undertaken or pursued into the available or conceivable technological potential and into an analysis of their cost/benefit ratios in order to permit production, on an industrial scale, of vehicles which are able to meet these more stringent limits; whereas the decision on that subsequent reduction must be taken by the European Parliament and the Council at least three years before these limit values enter into force in order to enable the industry to take the necessary measures whereby their products may, by the intended date, comply with the new Community provisions; whereas the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council will be based on proposals to be submitted by the Commission in due course; (6) Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of Directive 92/61/EEC, the components and characteristics covered by this Directive may not be placed on the market and sold in the Member States unless they comply with the provisions of this Directive; 12 May 1997. () OJ No L 225, 10. 8. 1992, p. 72.