21.7.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 204/37 DIRECTIVE 98/34/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 100a, 213 and 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (3), (1)  Whereas Council Directive 83/189/EEC of 28 March 1983 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (*) has been variously and substantially amended; whereas for reasons of clarity and rationality the said Directive should be consolidated; (2)  Whereas the internal market comprises an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured; whereas, therefore, the prohibition of quantitative restrictions on the movement of goods and of measures having an equivalent effect is one of the basic principles of the Community; (3)  Whereas in order to promote the smooth functioning of the internal market, as much (1) OJ C 78, 12.3.1997, p. 4. () OJ C 133, 28.4.1997, p. S. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 17 September 1997 (OJ C 304, 6.10.1997, p. 79), Council Common Position of 23 February 1998 (O] C 110, 8.4.1998, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 30 April 1998 (O] C 152, 18.5.1998). Decision of the Council of 28 May 1998. () OJ L 109, 26.4.1983, p. 8. Directive as last amended by Commission Decision 96/139/EC (O] L 32, 10.2.1996, p. 31). transparency as possible should be ensured as regards national initiatives for the establishment of technical standards or regulations; Whereas barriers to trade resulting from technical regulations relating to products may be allowed only where they are necessary in order to meet essential requirements and have an objective in the public interest of which they constitute the main guarantee; Whereas it is essential for the Commission to have the necessary information at its disposal before the adoption  of technical provisions; whereas, consequently, the Member States which are required to facilitate the achievement of its task pursuant to Article 5 of the Treaty must notify it of their projects in the field of technical regulations; Whereas all the Member States must also be informed of the technical regulations contemplated by any one Member State; Whereas the aim of the internal market is to create an environment that is conducive to the competitiveness of undertakings; whereas increased provision of information is one way of helping undertakings to make more of the advantages inherent in this market; whereas it is therefore necessary to enable economic operators to give their assessment of the impact of the national technical regulations proposed by other Member States, by providing for the regular publication of the titles of notified drafts and by means of the provisions relating to the confidentiality of such drafts; Whereas it is appropriate, in the interests of legal certainty, that Member States publicly announce that a national technical regulation has been adopted in accordance with the formalities laid down in this Directive; Whereas, as far as technical regulations for products are concerned, the measures designed to ensure the proper functioning or the continued development of the market include greater transparency of national intentions and a broadening of the criteria and conditions for assessing the potential effect of the proposed regulations on the market;