9.10.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 263/1 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) DIRECTIVES DIRECTIVE 2007/46/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, com- ponents and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive) (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO- PEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 95 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty (), Whereas: (1) 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 trail- ers (%), has been substantially amended several times. Since further amendments are to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity. (2)  For the purposes of the establishment and operation of the internal market of the Community, it is appropriate to replace the Member States” approval systems with a Community approval procedure based on the principle of total harmonisation. (3)  The technical requirements applicable to systems, compo- nents, separate technical units and vehicles should be har- monised and specified in regulatory acts. Those regulatory (1) OJ C 108, 30.4.2004, p. 29. (3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 11 February 2004 (O] C 97 E, 22.4.2004, p. 370), Council Common Position of 11 December 2006 (O] C 64 E, 20.3.2007, p. 1), Position of the European Parliament of 10 May 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 23 July 2007. (®) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 171, 29.6.2007, p. 1). acts should primarily seek to ensure a high level of road safety, health protection, environmental protection, energy efficiency and protection against unauthorised use. (4)  Council Directive 92/53/EEC of 18 June 1992 amending Directive 70/156/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (*) limited application of the Community whole vehicle type-approval procedure to the vehicle category M;. However, in order to complete the internal market and to ensure that it functions prop- erly, the scope of the present Directive should cover all categories of vehicles, enabling manufacturers to benefit from the advantages of the internal market by means of the Community type-approval. (5)  In order to enable manufacturers to adapt to the new har- monised procedures, a sufficient lead-time should be allowed before Community vehicle type-approval becomes compulsory for vehicles belonging to categories other than M, that are built in one stage. A longer lead-time is required for vehicles of categories other than M, that require a multi-stage approval, since that procedure will involve body-builders, who will need to gain sufficient experience in that field so that the necessary procedures can be implemented properly. However, due to the impor- tance of safety for vehicles of category M, and M, during the transitional period when national type approval is still valid in order to allow manufacturers to get experience with EC vehicle type approval, it is necessary that those vehicles comply with the technical requirements of the harmonised directives. (4 OJ L 225,10.8.1992, p. 1.