L 346/78 Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 12. 97 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 27 November 1997 with a view to accession by the European Community to the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted to and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions (‘Revised 1958 Agreement’) (97/836/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Articles 100a and 113 thereof, in conjunction with Article 228 (2), first sentence, Article 228 (3) second subparagraph, and Article 228 (4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal by the Commission (), Having regard to the assent of the European Par- liament (%), (1) Whereas, in its Decision of 23 October 1990, the Council authorized the Commission to take part in the negotiations concerning the revision of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Agreement concerning the adoption of uniform conditions of approval and reciprocal recog- nition of approval for motor vehicle equipment and parts, done at Geneva on 20 March 1958; (2) Whereas the 1958 Agreement has been revised; (3) Whereas, as a result of the aforementioned negotia- tions, the Community has the option of becoming a Contracting Party to the Revised Agreement in its () OJ C 69, 7. 3. 1996, p. 4. o (?) Assent delivered on 21 November 1997 (not yet published in the Official Journal). capacity as a regional economic integration organiza- tion to which its Member States have transferred powers in the area covered by the Agreement; (4) Whereas accession to the Revised Agreement consti- tutes an aim of common trade policy in accordance with Article 113 of the Treaty to remove technical barriers to trade in motor vehicles between the Contracting Parties; whereas involvement by the Community will add weight to the harmonization activities conducted pursuant to that Agreement and will thus permit easier access to third-country markets; whereas that involvement must result in the establishment of consistency between the instru- ments referred to as ‘Regulations’, adopted under the Revised Agreement, and Community legislation in this area; (5) Whereas the approval of motor vehicles and tech- nical harmonization are conducted on the basis of Directives concerning vehicle systems, components and separate technical units pursuant to Article 100a of the Treaty, which concerns the establishment and functioning of the internal market; whereas, since 1 January 1996 in respect of category M, vehicles, the harmonization is total and mandatory within the meaning 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 (*) and the separate Directives on this category of vehicle; (*) OJ L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Dir- ective 96/27/EC (O] L 169, 8. 7. 1996, p. 1).