28.3.78 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 81/49 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 21 December 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the wiper and washer systems of motor vehicles (78/318/EEC) - THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European - ‘Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (1), ' Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Whereas the technical requirements which motor ve- hicles must satisfy pursuant to national laws relate inter - alia to their wipers and washers; Whereas those requirements differ from one Member State to another; whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the same requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, in order, in particular, to allow the EEC type-approval procedure which was the subject of Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (3), as amended by Directive 78/315/EEC (#), to be introduced in respect of each type of vehicle; Whereas it is desirable to draft the technical require- ments so that they have the same aim as the work being carried out on the subject in the UN Economic Com- mission for Europe; Whereas these requirements apply to motor vehicles in category M, (the international classification of motor vehicles is given in Annex I to Directive 70/15 6‘/EEC); Whereas the approximation of the national laws relat- ing to motor vehicles entails reciprocal recognition by Member States of the checks carried out by each of them on the basis of the common requirements; ! (1) OJ No C 118, 16. 5. 1977, p. 33. () OJ No C 114, 11. 5. 1977, p. 8. (3) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1. (%) See page 1 of this Official Journal. Whereas windscreen-washer systems are already mar- keted both separately and after being fitted to a vehicle; whereas if it is possible to check them before they are fitted to a vehicle, their free movement may be facili- tated by the introduction of EEC type-approval for such systems, which are regarded as separate technical units within the meaning of Article 9a of Directive 70/156/EEC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 For the purposes of this Directive, ‘vehicle’ means any motor vehicle in cetegory M; (as defined in Annex I to Directive 70/156/EEC) intended for use on the road, having at least four wheels and a maximem design speed exceeding 25 km/h. Article 2 No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-ap- proval or national type-approval of a vehicle with re- gard to the windscreen-washer and windscreen-wiper systems, or of a windscreen-washer system, if: — such a vehicle satisfies the requirements of Annexes I to V relating to the windscreen-washer and windscreen-wiper systems, — such a windscreen-washer system regarded as a separate technical unit within the meaning of Article 9a of Directive 70/156/EEC satisfies the relevant requirements laid down in Annex I, — such a vehicle is fitted with a windscreen-washer system which has been granted type-approval as a separate technical unit within the meaning of Article 9a of Directive 70/156/EEC and has been installed in accordance with the requirements laid down in 6.2.5 of|Annex L. Article 3 1. No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into service or use of any vehicle on grounds relating to: