14.10.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 277/17 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 98/76/EC of 1 October 1998 amending Directive 96/26/EC on admission to the occupation of road haulage operator and road passenger transport operator and mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications intended to facilitate for these operators the right to freedom of establishment in national and international transport operations THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 75(1) 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 Atrticle 189c of the Treaty (%), 1) Whereas the differences between national regula- tions on admission to the occupation of road trans- port operator and the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications could lead to distortions of competition; Whereas it is therefore necessary to continue the process of harmonisation in this area, within the operational framework of the internal market, by further strengthening the common rules provided for in Directive 96/26/EC (*), Whereas it is necessary, because of developments in the road haulage market and the operational requirements of the internal market, to extend the scope of Directive 96/26/EC to certain categories of road haulage operators for hire or reward using low-tonnage vehicles, such as courier services, subject to a specific derogation for road haulage undertakings engaged in local short-distance trans- port operations and using vehicles of a maximum authorised weight of between 3,5 and 6 tonnes; Whereas with regard to good repute, provision should be made for more stringent requirements, including requirements concerning the protection of the environment and professional liability; Whereas with regard to financial standing, it is necessary, in order to avoid imbalances in the market, to fix appropriate available capital and reserves at a higher minimum level and to fix the (") OJ C 95, 24. 3. 1997, p. 66 and OJ C 324, 25. 10. 1997, p. 6. (3) OJ C 287, 22. 9. 1997, p. 21. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 17 July 1997 (O] C 286, 22. 9. 1997, p. 224), Council common position of 17 March 1998 (O] C 161, 27. 5. 1998, p. 12) and European Parliament Decision of 17 June 1998 (O] C 210, 6. 7. 1998). () OJ L 124, 23. 5. 1996, p. 1. value of the euro in those national currencies which are non-participants in the third stage of monetary union every five years; Whereas, with regard to professional competence, it is necessary that applicant road transport operators provide proof of a harmonised minimum level of training in the same subjects and that they hold certificates, drawn up in accordance with a compar- able model, certifying professional competence, in the commercial field in particular, at a harmonised minimum level and on the basis of uniform testing methods in all the Member States; whereas it is also necessary, for this purpose, to harmonise certain aspects of the organisation of the examination; Whereas the right of Member States to organise compulsory courses of preparation for the examina- tions of professional competence for applicants taking them for the first time who are normally resident within their territories shall remain unaf- fected, Whereas, therefore, the levels of knowledge to be taken into consideration for the issue of a certi- ficate of professional competence, without preju- dice to Directive 92/26/EC, differ from one Member State to another; whereas, because of these differences, national measures are therefore likely to vary considerably within the framework defined in Annex I to the said Directive, particularly as regards the qualifications of transport operators, the quality of service and road safety; Whereas it should be accepted that, for a limited period and after consulting the Commission, Member States may require persons who have never previously obtained a certificate of profes- sional competence in a Member State, but who have passed an examination of professional competence in one Member State when they were normally resident in another Member State where they intend to take up the occupation of road transport operator for the first time, to sit an addi- tional examination; whereas such additional exam- ination must cover areas in which national aspects of the profession differ from those of the