9.3.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 6747 DIRECTIVE 2002/7/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 February 2002 amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 71 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1)  Directive 96/53/EC (°) established, in the framework of the common transport policy, harmonised maximum vehicle dimensions for the circulation of road vehicles transporting goods. (2)  There is a need for harmonised maximum authorised vehicle dimensions for the circulation of road vehicles transporting passengers. Differences between standards in force in the Member States with regard to the dimen- sions of passenger road vehicles could have an adverse effect on the conditions of competition and constitute an obstacle to traffic between Member States. (3)  Since the objective of the harmonisation of the maximum authorised vehicle dimensions for road vehicles transporting passengers cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective. (4)  In the implementation of the internal market, the scope of Directive 96/53/EC should be extended to national transport in so far as it concerns characteristics that significantly affect the conditions of competition in the transport sector and in particular the values relating to () O] C 274 E, 26.9.2000, p. 32. () O] C 123, 25.4.2001, p. 76. () O] C 144, 16.5.2001, p. 15. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 3 October 2000 (O] C 178, 22.6.2001, p. 60), Council Common Position of 27 September 2001 (O] C 360, 15.12.2001, p. 7) and Decision of the European Parliament of 17 January 2002. () O] L 235, 17.9.1996, p. 59. the maximum authorised length and width of vehicles intended for the carriage of passengers. (5)  Harmonised rules on maximum weights and dimensions of vehicles should remain stable in the long term. Thus, the amendments laid down in this Directive should not create a precedent for the maximum authorised weights and dimensions of buses and other categories of motor vehicle. (6)  For reasons of road safety, buses should meet performance criteria as regards their manoeuvrability. (7)  For reasons of road safety linked to the state of their infrastructure Portugal and the United Kingdom should be authorised, for a transitional period, to refuse the use on their territory of buses which do not satisfy certain manoeuvrability criteria. (8)  Buses which were registered or put into circulation before the date of implementation of this Directive and which do not comply with the dimension characteristics laid down in this Directive, owing to previously differing national provisions or methods of measurement, should be allowed for a transitional period to continue to provide transport services within the Member State in which the vehicle is registered or put into circulation. (9  Directive 96/53/EC should therefore be amended accordingly, HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Directive 96/53/EC is hereby amended as follows: 1. in Article 1: (a) paragraph 1(a) shall be replaced by the following: ‘() the dimensions of motor vehicles in categories M2 and M3 and their trailers in category 0 and motor vehicles in categories N2 and N3 and their trailers in categories 03 and 04, as defined in Annex II to 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 (V); () O] L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2000/40/EC (O] L 203, 10.8.2000, p. 9).;