L 185/30 Official Journal of the European Union 15.7.2011 COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 678/2011 of 14 July 2011 replacing Annex Il and amending Annexes IV, IX and XI to Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive) (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 estab- lishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive) ('), and in particular Article 39(2) and (3) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Directive 2007/46/EC establishes a harmonised frame- work containing the administrative provisions and general technical requirements for all new vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units. In particular it includes the specific definitions concerning vehicles that are necessary for the proper functioning of the European type-approval system. (2)  One of the objectives of Directive 2007/46/EC is to extend the European vehicle type-approval system to all vehicle categories. Annex I to Directive 2007/46/EC that includes the necessary specific definitions has to be re- designed in order to take technical progress into account. It is therefore necessary to amend existing definitions or to establish new definitions. (3)  Experience shows that the current criteria for deter- mining whether a new model of vehicle is to be considered a new type are too vague. This lack of certainty can delay the implementation of new requirements laid down in EU legislation regarding new vehicle types. Moreover, experience shows that it is possible to circumvent the EU small series legislation by dividing a vehicle type into several sub-types under different type-approvals. Consequently, the number of new vehicles that may be put into service in the European Union under the small series regime can exceed what is permissible. It is therefore important to specify which vehicle technical features are to be used as criteria in determining what constitutes a new type. () O] L 263, 9.10.2007, p. 1. (4 In accordance with the principles enshrined in the communications  from the Commission entitled Action plan ‘Simplifying and improving the regulatory environment’ (3) and Action programme for ‘Reducing administrative burdens in the European Union’ (?), it is appropriate to reconsider the criteria to be used for the definition of the variants and versions within a vehicle type with a view to reducing the administrative burden placed on vehicle manufacturers. This would result, moreover, in making the type-approval process more transparent for the competent authorities of the Member States. (5)  Given the trends for globalisation on the automotive sector, the work of the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations — ‘the Working Party 29 (WP.29)’ - is increasingly significant. As it is essential in order to meet the recommendations of the CARS 21 High Level Group to incorporate Regulations of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UNECE) into EU law or even to replace EU Directives or Regu- lations by UNECE Regulations as well as to incorporate global technical Regulations into EU law, the consistency of the legislation of the European Union with the UNECE Regulations should be ensured. (6)  Given the harmonisation work in progress in the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations, it is essential to take account of the most recent devel- opments laid down in Resolution R.E. 3 on Classification and definition of power-driven vehicles and trailers in the framework of the Agreement of the UNECE concerning the adoption of uniform prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted to and/or used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions (Revised 1958 Agreement) as well as the Special Resolution S.R. 1 concerning the common definitions of vehicle categories, masses and dimensions in the framework of the UNECE Agreement concerning the establishing of global technical regulations for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted andfor be used on wheeled vehicles (Parallel or 1998 Agreement). Only the inclusion of those devel- opments in the Framework Directive can ensure the proper functioning of the European type-approval system. It is therefore necessary to introduce new criteria for determining whether a vehicle type should be categorised in an ‘M’ category or an ‘N’ category. () COM(2002) 278 final. (%) COM(2007) 23 final.